On the Yoga Sports Science (TM) course we are on the look out for trends in the use of Yoga in sport. For example, Yoga is credited with transforming the sport of freediving and has been key in the performances of world record holders in this discipline; not only does it allow them to hold their breath for longer periods but the whole meditative focus and physical discipline of Yoga have become integral to their lives and sporting goal achievement.
Yoga Journal did a feature on Francisco "Pipin" Ferreras, world freediving champion and yoga enthusiast..... "Ferreras, breaker of 50 world records for freediving, routinely plunges to depths of more than 100 meters and slows his heart to 10 beats a minute. Sitting still, he can hold his breath for an astonishing eight minutes." Ferreras himself became switched onto Yoga when his first teacher held his breath for fourteen minutes when he decided to try it ! Sara Campbell came to freediving as a Kundalini Yoga teacher and within a year of starting broke world records in this discipline and is now a renowned teacher weaving in her Yogic knowledge to dive specific techniques. A similar story emerges of the Sivananda Yoga Acharya Brittany Trubridge giving the freediving coaching edge to husband William, a 15 times world record holder in different freediving disciplines.
Just to sound a note of caution though, the Yoga techniques used by top freedivers are very advanced and should not be undertaken without the guidance of a qualified Yoga teacher to ensure they are practised safely.
More can be found on the freediving personalities quoted above at :
http://www.sarafreediver.com/
http://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/320
http://www.brittanytrubridge.com
