How I Found My Groove With Yoga Sports Science®

sport-specific yoga student success stories yoga sports coach™ yoga teacher development yss stories Jan 29, 2016

Originally published 2016 · Written by Yoga Sports Coach™ Benjamin du Bernard

As a lifelong enthusiastic amateur athlete and a yoga teacher of six years, I had felt for some time that, as passionate as I was about yoga, I hadn't quite found my 'groove' where teaching was concerned.

My search to complete the picture brought me to Yoga Sports Science® (YSS), and it felt like it might finally help me bring together my two passions in life: sport and yoga.

But I hesitated!

My Doubts About Training Online

One of my doubts was the online nature of the course.

How can such a physical subject, which relies so much on personal interaction and feedback, be taught online?

Well, it can, and to amazing effect.

The subject matter is delivered in a variety of ways, including documents, videos, one-to-one and group tutorials, and webinars.

As you learn about the subjects and reflect on them through your own practice and in your own time, there are plenty of opportunities to engage with and talk to other students through the forums, the student Facebook community and face-to-face meetings led by Hayley Winter, YSS Founder.

More Connected Than In-Person Training

A personal tutor supports you as much or as little as you need, with regular face-to-face meetings online.

One of the huge benefits of the online nature of the course is that it brings you together with students and tutors from all around the world, with a wide range of experience across different areas.

In many ways, I feel more connected with my student and tutor community at YSS online than I did during my in-person yoga teacher training!

It's Not Only Athletes Who Benefit

Applying the YSS teachings to ourselves first, supported by the YSS community, has taught me more about my own body and ways of fitting yoga into my hectic life.

It has also brought some very real improvements to my cycling performance, which haven't gone unnoticed by my coach and my peers.

Aside from the increased enjoyment I am personally getting out of this, what better way to get people listening to the potential benefits of yoga for sport?

And what we are learning isn't limited to the sport and yoga connection either.

Everything I have learnt can also be applied to the general population. I find myself better placed to understand my students' needs and how I can deliver yoga in a way that fits around their lives, whether that involves family, work, health or sport.

Bringing Yoga and Sports Science Together

YSS connects yoga with the 21st century, aligning it with the science that supports its effects while somehow retaining the history and traditions of yoga that we have inherited.

I truly believe that the work Hayley has done to develop YSS is a gift to anyone wanting to explore their performance, and it's a pleasure to be involved in this growing community of Yoga Sports Coaches™.

It's also fabulous that Hayley isn't just a name on the board, but teaches and engages with us weekly and shares the experience she has built up over the years.

So my only regret, if there is one, is that I was so hesitant when I first came across YSS a couple of years ago.

For me, finding Yoga Sports Science® has finally given me a way to bring together the two things I'm passionate about: yoga and sport.

Bring Yoga and Sport Together

If you're a yoga teacher interested in developing your knowledge of sport-specific yoga, explore our Yoga for Athletes 40-Hour Online Course.

Discover how yoga and contemporary movement science can come together to support athletes and develop your teaching skills.