By Linda Hammitt (Yoga & Step instructor for Bally Total Fitness) & Nicole Moneer (Power Flex instructor for Bally Total Fitness)
Photographed by Bob Gapella Photographed by John Merkle
Linda Hammitt Nicole Moneer
Tripoweryoga New Recipes
Tripoweryoga
If you have read this newsletter before you know that I LOVE SUMMER, and I do not like winter at all. Fall on the other hand is quite acceptable and pleasant, if it would only transition to Spring and by-pass Winter altogether. Transition- Fall and Winter marks a period where Summer athletes and tri-athletes have an opportunity to experiment with last years training plan. A typical tri-athlete will spend a small fortune on a new light weight bicycle wheel, or even seat post(?) with a benefit that is probably measured in fractions of a minute. Will they Tripower Yoga?
This past Sunday the ESPN show that comes on right before the big screen is dominated with football, had a segment that caught my eye. Normally, I only glimpse at the TV when I feel it is time to give my husband a mild jab about how we promised that this TV would never, ever, be used like it is now being used. Family movies were the justification for the big screen. Back to my main thought, there were these huge athletic men in the tree pose. A few thoughts occurred all at the same time.
1. I am not surprised that these athletes are doing power yoga.
2. I am not surprised that there is very slight comic spin to the story, as his fellow teammates were in the background “posing”.
3. I am kind of surprised that the overall theme of the segment wasn’t meant to be humorous.
The main character was a “lineman” who did not need to supplement his strength workout but did appreciate the flexibility gains. What really caught my ear was, and I am going to have to paraphrase because I did not have the time to get a pen and paper, but here is the meat and potatoes of what this highly trained professional athlete had to say, again not a direct quote:
“What I really get from this is more mental, I have to play through pain and still be able to concentrate. When things get tough I am able to focus on my breath, put the pain aside, and concentrate on my assignments”.
This got me thinking, as an athlete why not Tripoweryoga? What have you got to lose? Then it hit me. If power yoga gets on the ESPN Sunday show right before all of the games, its popularity might be hidden underneath the fitness trends and been there all along supplementing training plans, just kind of under the radar screen. A trip to the library revealed this:
LOOK WHO IS DOING YOGA: David Duval- (pro golfer)- "for flexibility and strengthening core muscles".
Wally Sczerbiak (NBA) - "Helped me stay away from injures".
Tanner Eriksen ( pro baseball pitcher) "the longer the muscle , the more powerful".
Dan Marino (Pro quater back) Took up yoga after an Achilles injury.
Barry Zito (pro baseball pitcher) Uses yoga and meditation to help him prepare for every game.
Sean Burke (Goal tender)- Does yoga every day, "Initially, there were poses I couldn’t quite master, probably because I am so big. But really, everybody goes through that in the beginning. As you get better and better, and before you know it, you’re amazed at the benefits you get from yoga."
All of the above information can be found in the book called Real Men Do Yoga by John Capouya. I only listed the first six out of 21 athletes that practice yoga.
Women, do not think that I have excluded you just because this particular Yoga book was about men athletes that have learned the benefits of Yoga. The ESPN segment triggered this article, and women have long recognized the benefits that can be received from practicing Yoga, as usual ahead of the curve. The list of women that practice goes on and on, to include models, actresses, and yes, women athletes.
Transitions are a very good thing, and every once in a great while , something good actually comes out of the big screen TV on a football Sunday.
Hope to see you in class...Namastea......Linda
Protein Pancakes-
4 egg whites
1 scoop chocolate protein powder (your preference)
1 cup of plain oatmeal
1 banana mashed
¼ soymilk (optional)
sugar free syrup (optional, I prefer Log-Cabin)
In a medium-sized bowl, mix together, egg whites, protein powder, oatmeal, banana and soymilk. Heat large frying pan and spray with Pam or other non-stick spray. Pour ¼ mixture into pan (should be able to make about 4 medium-sized pancakes). Cook on low to medium heat for about 1 minute and flip. Cooking time for each pancake is about 3-4 minutes (depending on how well you like them cooked). Serve hot with or without syrup.
Other options:
Try vanilla protein powder with ½ cup of mashed strawberries or blueberries.
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
½ cup peanuts
1 red pepper
4 slices of Pepper Jack cheese
¾ cup dried red chilies
2 cups long grain brown rice
1 cup of broccoli
2 tablespoons crushed red pepper (if you like it HOT)
In a 2-½ quart saucepan, add 6 cups water and cook/steam chicken for about 10 minutes. In a 2-½ quart saucepan add water and rice and broccoli (you can cook your broccoli separate or with your rice). Preheat oven to 350.
While the chicken and rice are cooking you can slice your red pepper. If you have a food processor or chopper you can chop the peanuts or leave them as is. After 10 minutes, remove chicken from water and place in casserole dish. Top chicken with Pepper Jack cheese, throw in red pepper slices, dried red chilies and lastly sprinkle with (crushed) peanuts. Place in oven for about 20-25 minutes.
Serve chicken with brown rice broccoli combo and top off with crushed red pepper if you like your food EXTRA HOT!
PBP treats (as given by Sid, my web designer)
7 tablespoons of reduced fat peanut butter (your preference)
1 package (approx. 11 crackers) low-fat graham crackers
1 scoop chocolate protein powder (your preference)
In a bowl mix peanut butter and protein powder, stir well. Add 1 tablespoon to a graham cracker and top off with another. Makes about 25 servings. Eat now or refrigerate and save for later.
Other Options: Try sugar-free Smuckers jelly instead of protein powder, or opt for chocolate graham crackers and sugar-free Cool Whip mixed in with the peanut butter