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Swans caught in yoga wave
19 December 2003 Herald Sun
Nikki Tugwell
WHILE Essendon, Port Adelaide and Hawthorn are enduring intensive military-style survival camps, the sensitive new-age Swans are rolling out their yoga mats.
Life of Ryan: Sydney forward Ryan O'Keefe enjoys the surf at Coogee yesterday.
Picture: Stephen Cooper
Young forward Ryan O'Keefe is one Swan flourishing from alternative training.
Combining surfing and yoga with his strength and conditioning has enabled O'Keefe to prune his 1km time of 3min 02sec of 12 months ago to 2:57.
"I'm pretty adaptable to most fitness-based things and yoga is something we've done the last couple of years," O'Keefe said.
"It's been beneficial for a lot of players. It helps with flexibility, body movement and it's harder than people think.
"It works your core and muscles that don't usually get worked, so it's also good for injury reduction. We take it very seriously."
The Swans yesterday followed a cross country circuit up Centennial Hill with a swimming session at Coogee Bay. They limber up today with a session of yoga before an Ultimate Running Man competition tomorrow.
Unlike Hawthorn players, who are slogging away at Wilsons Promontory, the Swans have opted not to go on a torturous boot camp.
Essendon had a gruelling camp at Cann River and Port roughed it in the New Zealand wilderness.
"You try to make things physically hard but you're mindful of injuries now," Swans coach Paul Roos said.
"Ten years ago every club would have done those camps. There wasn't as much thought to recovery and injuries but now it's less mainstream."
For O'Keefe's part, all of his times -- and those of his teammates -- have improved.
"I stayed pretty fit and active with surfing off-season," O'Keefe said.
"I've also done a few pre-seasons now, so my body knows what to expect and just says, 'All right, we're ready to go'.
"We're about four weeks behind pre-season, due to last year's finals campaign, but everybody's times are faster than last year.
"Maybe it's a myth that you have to flog everybody to be really fit. Nearly all of my times are quicker compared to this time last year.
"I'm happy with my progress, but it's a long way until the season starts so I don't want to get too far ahead of myself."
Post-season O'Keefe, 22, sat back and reviewed his year, first privately and then with club coaches. The fitness analysis has resulted in a pre-season emphasis on explosive power and speed.
19 December 2003 Herald Sun
Nikki Tugwell
WHILE Essendon, Port Adelaide and Hawthorn are enduring intensive military-style survival camps, the sensitive new-age Swans are rolling out their yoga mats.
Life of Ryan: Sydney forward Ryan O'Keefe enjoys the surf at Coogee yesterday.
Picture: Stephen Cooper
Young forward Ryan O'Keefe is one Swan flourishing from alternative training.
Combining surfing and yoga with his strength and conditioning has enabled O'Keefe to prune his 1km time of 3min 02sec of 12 months ago to 2:57.
"I'm pretty adaptable to most fitness-based things and yoga is something we've done the last couple of years," O'Keefe said.
"It's been beneficial for a lot of players. It helps with flexibility, body movement and it's harder than people think.
"It works your core and muscles that don't usually get worked, so it's also good for injury reduction. We take it very seriously."
The Swans yesterday followed a cross country circuit up Centennial Hill with a swimming session at Coogee Bay. They limber up today with a session of yoga before an Ultimate Running Man competition tomorrow.
Unlike Hawthorn players, who are slogging away at Wilsons Promontory, the Swans have opted not to go on a torturous boot camp.
Essendon had a gruelling camp at Cann River and Port roughed it in the New Zealand wilderness.
"You try to make things physically hard but you're mindful of injuries now," Swans coach Paul Roos said.
"Ten years ago every club would have done those camps. There wasn't as much thought to recovery and injuries but now it's less mainstream."
For O'Keefe's part, all of his times -- and those of his teammates -- have improved.
"I stayed pretty fit and active with surfing off-season," O'Keefe said.
"I've also done a few pre-seasons now, so my body knows what to expect and just says, 'All right, we're ready to go'.
"We're about four weeks behind pre-season, due to last year's finals campaign, but everybody's times are faster than last year.
"Maybe it's a myth that you have to flog everybody to be really fit. Nearly all of my times are quicker compared to this time last year.
"I'm happy with my progress, but it's a long way until the season starts so I don't want to get too far ahead of myself."
Post-season O'Keefe, 22, sat back and reviewed his year, first privately and then with club coaches. The fitness analysis has resulted in a pre-season emphasis on explosive power and speed.
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