In 2015, an elite football player’s weekly schedule goes far beyond the training pitch in the lead up to their fixtures.
Indeed, to match it with the game’s best, a professional footballer must follow a thorough and all-encompassing training and nutritional regime, inclusive of traditional and alternative sessions and practices.
For the Newcastle Jets, a key part of the players’ weekly schedule is a relaxing and restorative yoga session at YOGA loft on Hunter Street, just a stone’s throw away from the Foreshore and Nobbys Beach.
YOGA loft creator and Jets yoga teacher, Cveta Jovanoska, says that over the course of the 2014/15 Hyundai A-League season she’s seen the club’s players improve their poses and technique, and received positive reports from key members of the first team staff.
Indeed, Jovanoska says right-back Scott Neville is one of the players that has fully embraced his weekly yoga.
“Justin Dougherty (Newcastle Jets physiotherapist) said to me the other day that he can tell when Scott Neville has been regularly practicing yoga because he notices he is more calm and focussed on the field,” Jovanoska said.
“Scott is one of those guys that commits 100 per cent to his yoga practice. Even working with him post-injury has been incredible. He has full body awareness and stays within his limits – which can be a challenge in itself.”
Jovanoska said yoga can relax and refresh players before or after a game.
“I heard one of the players say that he hasn’t been able to sleep well recently, but after the hour yoga class he was ready to fall asleep!” she said. “It’s great to see how relaxed and refreshed they feel after the class.”
Regular yoga practice can also result in a happier mood, decreased back pain, better focus at work, more energy, a calmer mind, weight loss, and improved vitality and flexibility.
YOGA loft is open 7 days week, with classes between 6am and 9pm. Their state of the art studios have ocean views and its teachers are some of Newcastle’s most sought-after.
Visit www.YOGAloft.com.au to find out more.
