College Edition College_FALL_II_2013 | Page 64

PSYCHOLOGY Dr. Nadia Martinez-Pimentel Dr. Nancy Wallace BY TOM FERRARO H ot yoga was invented by the former Olympic weight lifting champion Bikram Choudhury. This form of yoga has become increasingly popular with athletes and dancers looking to stay fit. There are thousands of hot yoga studios around the world. They had one in Seoul Korea when I was there two months ago on a book tour. It is based upon 26 poses one does in a 90 minute class intervals, and the quality of the teaching. Instructors are trained to talk the entire 90 minutes and the class takes place in 105 degree heat. I defy you not to lose weight if you “Hot yoga is the modern cross training option for many serious athletes because it works and it’s an injury free (below) training.”form of Tom Mcfeely Tom Mcfeely “Dr. Martinez-Pimentel :Physician. runner and yoga student’ Yoga has definite benefits for athletes. As an example I do the yoga practice to help strengthen my quadriceps”. I injured my knee and I know that by making my thigh muscles strong my knee is protected.” the runners. attend classes three times per week. I recently interviewed some physicians and athletic trainers to understand the benefits of hot yoga for the serious high school or college athlete. Vera Richman, a marathon runner and trainer of elite runners, takes class regularly in Carle Place. She explained that runners accrue two major benefits from hot yoga: First, heat and stretching help to lean very tight and bulked up leg muscles that serious long distance runners often develop. In addition, core strengthening from hot yoga class improves posture and endurance for “Vera Richman; runner and trainer’ “I find that hot yoga improves the runner’s posture, core strength and endurance.” 64 WWW.ULTIMATEATHLETEMAGAZINE.COM Vera Richman Nadia Martinez-Pimentel is a prominent Queens’s physician who takes time out of her busy schedule to attend hot yoga. She believes this form of yoga helps to build leg and back strength which is a real injury preventive measure. She explains it enhances balance and is very good for not only athletes, but for the elderly as well. Dr. Nancy Wallace is another regular at the hot yoga studio. The very busy Queens-based physician makes the trip out to Carle Place to attend classes. She feels that yoga helps improve focus, discipline and concentration and can only serve to help, not hinder, the athlete. Sixty second poses build a focused mind for sports, as well as life. She feels that the many breathing exercises build lung capacity which is crucial “Dr. Nancy Wallace, physician ‘everyone comes to class for a different reason. I like the feeling of empowerment it leaves me with by the end of class.’ to stamina in sports. Finally, I interviewed Tom McFeely, owner of the Carle Place hot yoga studio. He’s worked with bulky NFL players to petite gymnasts and figure skaters. He said hot yoga builds flexibility, balance, core strength and stamina without the risk of injury seen in so many fitness regiments. Like Dr. Wallace, Tom McFeely believes hot yoga helps athletes connect his/her mind with his/her body, adding that holding poses for so long brings the athletes awareness inside his own body and connects him with it like never before. For this reason, yoga is often referred to as “moving meditation.” I am now 65 years old and still a very good golfer. I hit the ball a million miles off the tee and when my group gasps and asks me how I do it, I always say, “Very simple- hot yoga. Three times a week.” The safest, and maybe the best, cross training option for the modern athlete is what they call hot yoga. Try it, you’ll like it! FOR MORE INFO GOT TO basesportsconditioning.org 65