Yoga and the Vitruvian Man

Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man reminded me about what yoga does for us functionally. The Vitruvian Man has his arms and legs positioned somewhat like the hour and minute hand of a clock. By getting strong in poses of yoga, you become less susceptible to injuries in sports like soccer and skiing, which are very dynamic. It will also help performance because you will be more stable in those core positions. Yoga also helps sustain muscle tone for endurance sports like running, where breakdown in form can lead to injuries. Areas like the gluteals are not optimally strengthened. A recent study shown that for maximum longevity a combination of strength flexibility and aerobic activity need to be done in concert.