Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36We incorporate many of the same poses as traditional yoga, though they are delivered in significantly different ways for different reasons. Everything we teach is based on the biomechanics of the golf swing, but we also focus on breathing, on mindset conditioning and in being present in the moment. FITNESS ZONE January 2017 | 5 Subscribe today at juniorgolfmag.net JG: How does a class of this type evolve for a golfer? Katharine: We always do a baseline assessment first, to see what each per- son’s range of motion is. And we always work on the breathing, striving for long, smooth breaths to reset your mind. This is important for golfers as they’re walking to the next tee…whether they’ve just holed a long putt or taken three shots from the bunker the hole before. You need that mind re- set. Then we move into a dynamic warmup and work our way into stand- ing power poses and core work. We finish with a post-round series of poses, which are especially helpful for golfers who are fatigued from playing a lot. JG: Does the routine differ for juniors? Katharine: Whereas the older population of golfers needs more mobility, flexibility and strength, juniors typically require more muscular and skele- tal integration. And, of course, we need to cultivate that mindset and work on postural issues because today’s younger people tend to spend much of their time in a C posture where the upper back is rounded, due to working in front of a computer, spending significant time with their smart phones and such. Good posture is the foundation of a quality golf swing, so this is a major issue for juniors to address. JG: How often should golfers do their yoga conditioning? Katharine: Ideally, they should practice their yoga techniques four to five days per week, although rest and regeneration is also important. During the off-season, it’s beneficial to work on flexibility and strength, while in-season you want to concentrate on your endurance because when the body breaks down, the mind will follow. JG: How does a young golfer get started with your yoga program? Katharine: Since we have been certifying instructors all over the country and the world, it’s easy to locate a local instructor through our website. You can also get the DVDs that we’ve made conveniently available. And, of course, I do a lot of private face time instruction online with people I’ve never personally met. Many times, I’ll work in conjunction with the stu- dent’s swing coach so that I’m part of that person’s collective team. JG: You collaborate with a variety of professionals and sports teams, don’t you? Katharine: Yes, I do a lot of collaborative work with coaches such as Hank Haney, who’s a good friend, and I also work with various other swing coaches in developing specialized programs and team up with golf organi- zations around the world, conducting Yoga for Golfers training, workshops and clinics. And I have clients in other sports as well, such as Major League Baseball teams like the Chicago Cubs, Oakland A’s, L.A. Dodgers, Texas Rangers, Kansas City Royals and the Milwaukee Brewers. JG: Is there any advice that you would give to young golfers who might be considering yoga? Katharine: I would stress the importance of having fun, whether you make yoga a part of your golf routine or not. And that also means, when you’re still young, playing other sports too so that you fully develop your different muscle groups. As a multi-dimensional athlete, you can develop more nat- urally and fit more easily into your niche when you’re ready to specialize. Range of motion helps determine the specific routine For golf and yoga alike, it’s a matter of connection and balance