A research project as part of PhD research, where we explored effectiveness of a yoga intervention on sports performance.

1. Effects of an eight week yoga
intervention on hamstring flexibility and
sprint performance
Tilak Raj (Tiya Yoga)

2. Research Question
• To examine the relationship between hamstring flexibility and
sprint speed of athletes
Research Question

3. Yoga
• Improves flexibility (Van Puynbroeck, Payne et al. 2007).
• Enhances performance (Woodyard, C. 2011).
• Improves body posture, and reduces injury recovery time
(Woodyard, C. 2011).
Literature Review

4. Flexibility
• Flexibility routines has been accepted by coaches and trainers
(Iain M. Fletcher & Anness, 2007)
• A component of physical fitness and athletic performance
(Guiser, 2017)
• Prevention of injuries (I. M. Fletcher and Jones, 2004; Shellock
& Prentice, 1985; Shrier, 2004)
• Improved sprint performance (Iain M. Fletcher & Anness, 2007;
Guiser, 2017)
Literature Review

5. Yoga Intervention
• A yoga intervention specifically designed for rugby players
• Targets the non-contact injuries and body parts with the highest incidence
of injury based on the report provided by ACC
• Using yoga intervention as a tool for Pre-habilitation
• Previous interventions are not adaptable in nature
• Can not be followed by a large population
• This yoga intervention is a progressive intervention

6. Yoga Intervention cont.…
• Carefully selected yoga postures (asana) to meet the needs of
the game.
• A standardised yoga sequence to practice
• Yoga classes, two times a week for eight weeks
• Morning 7:30
• Evening 6:30
• Including yoga in addition to the rugby training

7. • Flexibility test using Sit and
reach box
Method
Convenience sampling method
• Sprint speed using electronic
timing gates

8. Methods
• Sample
• 13 rugby players from same team volunteered for the study
• Randomly assigned in two groups
• experimental group (practicing yoga) 7 players = 54%
• control group (continue regular training) 6 players = 46%
Methods

9. Procedure
• Data was collected over 8 weeks at the beginning of the rugby season
and in mid season.
• Both groups were tested together on one day.
• Using the facility of Recreation centre and New Zealand Cricket High
Performance Centre at Lincoln University.

10. Table 1. Mean ± SD pre- and post yoga intervention.
Pre-season Mid-season
Control group
n=6
Experimental
Group n=7
Control group
n=6
Experimental
Group n=7
Age 18 18 18 18
Mean±SD
Height (CM) 182.7±3.4 183±4.6 183.6±4 183.3±4.5
Weight (KG) 86.3±12.2 92.3±23.2 89.9±14.1 94.2±22.8

11. Findings
-1
-5.01
-14
-12
-10
-8
-6
-4
-2
0
2
4
.
Flexibility Difference
Experimental group Control Group
-0.4
-0.3
-0.2
-0.1
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
5M Sprint 10M Sprint 30M Sprint
Sprint Speed
Experimental Group Control group
Findings

12. Results
• There was no significant difference in both group.
Result

13. Discussion
Discussion