Want a lower handicap AND the body of a model?
Sign up TODAY for “Yoga for Golf”
An ad in our golf club’s latest “Birdies & Putts” newsletter caught my eye. I was usually sore after every round and stiff joints and sore muscles are no fun so maybe Yoga would help. Besides, who wouldn’t love having a model’s figure too?
A few texts later and the members of our “Princess Golfer” group were all signed up. We were excited about the possibility of lower handicaps and lithe bodies; and it was a great excuse to buy a new outfit at the lululemon store. Seriously, what good is yoga without the appropriate workout attire?
Then, Jane called with a potential hiccup. “I hope you don’t mind but I mentioned the ‘Yoga for Golf’ class to Dave, and he got excited; he thought that the boys might like to join us.
And, before I could say ‘maybe,’ he called the club and enrolled himself, John and Rick.
The instructor was so impressed that guys might also want better handicaps - and model bodies, too - she offered to hold a special ‘Couples Yoga for Golf’ class just for us.”
I didn’t know what to say and silently wondered if the instructor knew what she’d gotten herself into. The day of the class saw the ladies adorned in the latest yoga fashion and the hubbies in ragtag t-shirts and gym shorts. So far, so good.
“Hello everyone!” Our instructor Jasmine greeted us promptly at 9 AM. “Today we are beginning our “yoga for golf” program. It will stretch your muscles, improve your posture, and make you more limber. With a program of exercises three to four times a week, you will experience greater ease of movement and likely show improvements in your handicaps.
While you ladies may not receive modeling contracts, and the men may not get buff enough for Chippendales, I am confident that, after a year or two of serious application, with repetition of the “Om” mantra, the PGA and LPGA Senior Tours could be within reach.
Murmurs of approval, sprinkled with giggles and guffaws, were heard in the room. “Let’s begin, shall we. Please put your mats on the floor and sit in the middle of them, cross legged.” After a few minutes, most of us were able to get down on all fours and sit, but it was clear that doing a yoga pose with crossed legs would be a challenge for some.
Not skipping a beat, our instructor continued. “Now, get on all fours and we’ll go into the ‘cat pose.’ Just follow my movements; curl your back up like a cat and then stretch out as far as you can, extending one leg toward the ceiling. Hold the pose and breath in deeply, then exhale. Repeat this three times.”
“I’m sorry - what?” Dave was still struggling to get down on his knees. “And what’s this about stretching like a cat and what does it have to do with golf anyway? John, can you do this?”
John was rubbing his leg to ease a cramp as he dodged a shoe that had flown off Rick’s foot, but he tried to give some encouragement. “Guys, we can do this. Let’s not let the gals make us look bad. We can go relax in the jacuzzi when we’re finished.”
Meanwhile, the ladies were doing their best to keep up. “I thought yoga was supposed to be easy.” complained Jane. “It was hard enough getting down onto the mat, but I can’t make my back curl like a cat, let alone stretch out that far. Maybe it would help if I purred?” This brought gales of laughter from the group and a look of reprimand from Jasmine.
After forty minutes of breathing and stretching muscles, we didn’t know we had, we finally heard the long-awaited words “Great class everyone, see you next time. Namaste.”
Amidst some groans about how sore we were, we congratulated each other on making it through our first “Couples Yoga for Golf” class. “See you all next week!” I called out as we exited the studio. “I think this will be a good thing for us - eventually.” I was harboring the secret hope that the promised “model’s body” was somewhere in my future.
“Sure,” responded my hubby.“As long as we can book couples massages right after. By the way, did you bring any Advil with you?"
© 2024 Annie Sokoloff
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