ZIMBABWE senior men’s team head coach Justin Sammons says yoga could become a regular part of Chevrons training after the squad joined the Indian Embassy’s World International Yoga Day session in Harare.
“It was really enjoyable,” Sammons told NewsDay Sport.
“I found it extremely beneficial for myself, who is naturally quite stiff.
“So it was brilliant and yeah, I think it’s actually something that we need to look at moving forward.”
The coach highlighted breathing as the biggest takeaway with a busy schedule, including a full home series against Bangladesh and three T20Is against India in Harare looming.
“Breathing helps you centre and bring you back to the present. I think that’s so important in cricket,” Sammons added.
“Often you can think about what’s happened in the past, the previous ball, you worry about the outcome, the result, instead of just focusing on one ball at a time.
“And breathing with all sports is so important in terms of bringing to the present.”
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He confirmed yoga will not be a once-off. “Like I said, I thought it was extremely beneficial and we’ll definitely look to incorporate this in our space moving forward. It was brilliant.”
Indian ambassador to Zimbabwe, Bramha Kumar said the session showed deeper India-Zimbabwe ties.
“Feeling is like, you know, I feel like more connected with Zimbabwe,” Kumar said.
“India and Zimbabwe are the countries who are best represented by their cricket…
“And important, how important it is that our people to people connect is not from today.
“It is existing from 15th century since time of Mutapa Kingdom.”
Yoga and meditation instructor Janita Hargoven said the session gave players body awareness and mental edge.
“Yoga is about the mind-body-soul connection… Yoga brings that element which you can’t see immediately but with consistency you start seeing that your performance increases simply because that you are now being able to maintain and retain your longer periods of focus and attention, especially when you’re working under pressure,” she said.
Zimbabwe hosts India for 3 T20Is in Harare next month before returning the tour later.
