The Advance

Issue date: 10/10/08 Section: Sports

Girls's basketball practice yoga to help their game.

he Lady Coyote women's basketball team has been stretching beyond the norm to prepare for the upcoming season.

The women are doing yoga three times a week for an hour in order to increase athleticism through flexibility. The instructor is head coach Gordon Reimer's daughter, Liz Browne.
"We wanted to increase strength in our athletes, without adding bulk," said Reimer, "This way we are improving flexibility and still getting what we need out of them."

Browne is a graduate of the Colorado School of Healing Arts and specializes in Pilates. She has been involved with Pilates for seven years, yoga for five, and massage therapy as well.

"Yoga is beneficial because it helps you connect the mind and body as one. The ability to really feel your body stretch and move is important for athletes," said Browne.

She was also a basketball player in high school and mentioned that she wished she was more flexible in her competitive days.
On a "yoga difficulty scale" of one to ten, Browne said that the Lady Coyotes are around a three, and improving very nicely. Browne also plans to incorporate massage therapy toward the beginning of the season to increase flexibility, strengthen the muscles and tendons and as a means for injury prevention.

Freshman point guard Shelby Babcock said she enjoys the yoga sessions. "I think it is going to help us in the long run, it is hard for us now, but will pay off for season."
The women start their preseason at 6 p.m. on Nov. 4 in Peru, Neb. against Peru State College. Then the Lady Coyotes travel that Friday to play in the Doane Classic in Crete, Neb. to take on Doane College at 8 p.m., then Hastings College at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.

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