*  YOGA FOR GOLF was founded by certified   Yoga teacher Peggy Brigham in 1997.

"Golf is more than a game, it's a state of mind. Yoga is more than stretching, it's mastering a state of mind." MB

How It Works

The exploration begins with 5 key principles.. . using Ancient Wisdom & Modern Application, to improve the quality of your life and golf.

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Centering: The purpose of Centering is to bring your mind and emotions to a calm place. To bring your focus into the present moment. If you’re thrown off balance by the high emotions that arise with the game, you learn to detach and let go.

Yoga Poses: Geared specifically for the muscles/tendons used in playing golf to increase flexibility, strength and muscle tone. The golf swing is very one sided and your whole body needs to stretch to gain flexibility. As you gain flexibility in your body this transfers over to your mind enabling you to go with
the flow.

Relaxation: Relaxation is the essential ingredient in training the mind. Golfers are encouraged to set goals and are taught how to visualize themselves in achieving them.

Meditative Focused Training: Golfers are taught the skills to become more positive thinkers, which produces confidence and a belief in ones self and ability. The body never makes a mistake it acts out the messages the mind sends. Golfers learn to keep the messages clear and focused on the best
outcomes.

Breathing: The Breath is the important link used in all the above techniques. When proper breathing is combined with the swing golfers will experience instant improvement to their game and scores.

Genuine Lasting improvement comes because Yoga like Golf are both a path and a goal.

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YOGA for GOLF™ What's the miracle ingredient for lowering your golf score consistently? Peggy Brigham believes it's her Yoga for Golf program that she has spent years researching and developing. This specifically designed golf program conditions your most important equipment your mind and body, both must be practiced and refined together to achieve consistent success.     * Learn Stretches to use at home, on the driving range, before a game and after. Gain greater distance to your drives with a more powerful swing.     * Discover the elusive Zone and learn steps to enter it whenever you desire.     * Play pain and injury free... No more missed games!     * Learn how to block out distractions, internal or external, and be a calm and composed golfer for clear decision making     * Tap into your powerful subconscious mind and let the your previous best shots come through in the present     * Develop greater confidence and become your own personal coach     * Learn the steps to focus in the moment, bringing you fully in the present; the only place you must be to produce the best shots     * Learn how overcoming obstacles on the golf course builds ability to overcome obstacles in everyday life     * Golf is a great test of character. Use this useful knowledge in dealing with clients on the golf course.     * Golf is 90% mental. The fastest way to improve your game is through visualizations. Learn quick easy steps.

The meaning of Yoga:

Over the years people have asked “What does yoga mean?” The best descriptions of yoga I have read comes from the Richard Hittelman’s Book - Yoga 28 Day Exercise Plan.

Let us review his take on what Yoga means. He states that, “centuries ago men of great intellect and spiritual stature perceived in a very direct way that human beings are disjointed. Meaning that the body, emotions, mind and spirit pull in their own directions as each part demands the fulfillment of it’s own needs and desires. This causes a continual separation and prevents the individual from functioning as an integrated whole, wherein his full potential is not realized. To end the split the Gurus or wise men evolved and perfected several systems known as yoga. There are different yoga paths employing the different techniques but all are designed to achieve the same unifying objective.

Yoga is not simply another form of exercising, which the Western world emphasizes. For the dedicated practitioner it awakens a great power that lies dormant in the organism and this power is utilized for the development of one’s own unique and individual potential.”

All very interesting you may think, so how does this relate to my game? We can look at the game and some of the different desires and demands our separate parts have. Many years ago there was a show on T.V. called ‘Herman’s Head’ for those that remember this show it gave a perfect example of the different demands and desires pulling at a person. For the golfer lets use an example of playing in a tournament for work. The first distraction taking you away from enjoying the moment, is the mind, which is a great problem solver and being surrounded by the people from work keeps the minds desire focused there.

- The mind will pull your thinking to the list of projects it would rather be working on.

    *The body protests, it is tired and would rather be relaxing not walking the course, it rebels with aches and pains.

- Then the emotions are effected, by your high performance anxiety and the continual comparing to others, think about this.. tense emotions, equal a tight, short, choppy swing.

    * Finally the spirit just wants to play and tries to get you to listen to your instincts regarding what club to use and you are constantly trying to keep it quiet (because you are conditioned to believe your logical left brain knows  better then your creative, instinctual right brain.)

So you may look like you are playing a game but in actual fact you are having an internal battle and you wonder why you agreed to play in this &&%#$@@$ tournament. The only thing you can think of to help you out of this misery is the 19th hole. Is there a better solution then drowning your sorrows? How can being in a Yoga or Union with yourself help? What will I gain by having all parts of myself working together as one unit? The best and most satisfying answer you will receive will come from finding out for yourself through your own experince. Suffice it to say, being in union (yoga) is a whole way of living inside yourself, a way back to harmony and contentment in whatever situation you find yourself in.

Now I know these are only words to you, harmony and contentment and they may not hold a high value in comparison to longer yards from that $500.00 driver. So go ahead if you want and continue to complain, it is easier then working on qualities of the inner game. Why have the patience to practice, it only leads to empowerment and genuine lasting improvement.

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