Customer Reviews

Yoga for Every Athlete: Secrets of an Olympic Coach (Llewellyn's Strategies for Success)

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I am actively retired and a very good, goal oriented skier. My background was hi tech where I was a lead manager at (perhaps) the most significant R&D Company of all time (Bolt Beranek and Newman - inventors of all things Internet). I mention this only since designing and then implementing networks is an exercise based on process understanding as the basis for detailed system design. So as I pursue my effort to become the best bump skier on my local mountains (Aspen Colorado) I am very focused on first understanding and then designing my training program ... toward which my current skills assessment is

a) coordination and active skills - very good
b) aerobic capabilities - good to very good
c) strength - so so to good ('HIT' weight training at the gym focused
mostly on quads and hamstrings)
d) flexibility - Horrid (I hate stretching)

But, I am anything if not committed so my chosen vehicle this year is Yoga and since I am skilled at process design and following a long search of so many books on yoga as it relates to sports improvement my review)

This is the best of so many books bought, scanned and then retired to my many book cases - most likely never to be read again. What makes it the best

1) It is written by an author who used the techniques recorded to
accomplish specific goals. Aladar Kogler is a PH.D. was trained under
in Czechoslovakia under the soviet systems (for my money the best in
the world) where he coached the highly successful Czechoslovakian
Fencing Team before escaping to U.S. Throughout his coaching career he
has trained an astonishing number of world class fencers, first from a
smaller Eastern Bloc Country and later a smaller U.S. University.

This is significant in the author's adoption and application of Yoga as
central to his training was TOTALLY driven toward measurable tests and
standard - where his fencers the best in the world. Contrast that with
so many yoga books written for distraught women and yuppies looking for
general health, happiness and renewal (whatever these conditions mean).

2) The book is clear, understandable and result oriented - rather than
general explanations this book details a specific regimen and plan -
pleasantly based on system design and mechanics. Kogler explains what
to do, why you are doing it, and what to expect.

So while I still hate stretching, I now have a highly accomplished coach who is providing me with a very good map - I know what and why I am doing each step and can gauge progress against clear interim and end goals.

And herein lies the magic of the book - while I am moving across well plotted terrain my coach is clear in having me not to take account interim or end point goals - while I am to create and record results in a journal, I am to push for progress. I am to follow the plan and take encouragement if (AS) progress is made. So even though I start unable to touch my toes I can see and have recorded some progress and have come to believe (given I understand how and why) that if I will remain true to the attempt and pay close attention to the asanas I will improve against my real goals (be a better bump skier on very steep and demanding slopes).

This book (in the best of the Chinese definition, is becoming my Tao) for turning a glaring and difficult weakness in a strength. And for that I thank (via this review) the author.

regards

I don't have much to add to the insightful comments made by Mr. Weinstein above. This is the most valuable sport-training book that I own, period. Not only for fencers. Very highly recommended.

Having had Aladar as a fencing coach, I can say that he definitely knows what he's talking about. In fencing, one's muscles tend to develop unevenly (the front arm and leg work harder than the others) and yoga helps even them out and keep you balanced. It is also a good practice to come down from the athletic high that you can get after competition. The mindful practice of these exercises keeps you balanced as an athlete, as well as a person.

This is an excellent book to help with flexibility and injury prevention. It's great that there are specific poses for specific sports, targeting areas that are key in whatever sport you do.