5 Athletes Who Prove You Can Be Jacked & Do Yoga

Cyber Flexing has written before about why body builders should do yoga, highlighting improvements in breathing and balance, the idea of minimizing injuries, and more. A lot of experienced fitness professionals now freely recognize these benefits and will recommend yoga to virtually any kind of athlete (or non-athlete looking to get in shape, for that matter). Still, though, there are some athletes and body builders who see yoga as being too slow or too light, or - if we’re being honest - not “tough” enough. 

To counter those attitudes we’d note again that there are clear benefits of yoga practice even for high-level body builders. But to further the point, here are some major athletes who prove beyond a doubt that you can practice yoga and be jacked at the same time. 

1. Calvin Johnson 

It doesn’t get much more convincing than an athlete whose nickname was “Megatron” practicing yoga. Unfortunately, Calvin Johnson had a relatively short career due to various injuries (of the sort yoga couldn’t help hold off), but his time in the NFL established him as one of the most devastatingly effective wide receivers in history. In 2013, various articles revealed that the then-Detroit Lions star with the statue-like physique included yoga as part of his daily routine, alongside stretching and general recovery. 

2. LeBron James 

There are actually some comparisons to be made between LeBron James and Calvin Johnson: Both starred in the midwest, they were in their primes at roughly the same time, and both looked to simply be a tier above their competition from a physical and athletic standpoint. As we now know though, LeBron James is a bigger star even than Johnson; by this point, he’s established himself as one of the two or three best basketball players in history, by most every measure. He’s accomplished this with exceptional talent, hard work, and a rare mind for the game - but has also set himself apart with his pure physical strength and durability. He doesn’t quite have that body builder look, but he’s incredibly jacked for an athlete, and he’s known to include yoga among his regular exercise techniques. 

3. Keith Mitchell 

Keith Mitchell has actually been retired from the NFL for a while now (since 2003), but deserves to make this list because he was something of a pioneer for NFL players practicing yoga. Mitchell was an All-Pro player as a linebacker for various teams, and measured about 6’2’’, 240 pounds (if not more) during his prime. He’s exactly the sort of athlete people imagine never leaving the gym, save to have some big heavy meals in between lifting sessions. And yet, Mitchell was one of the headliners in a Vice piece on yoga becoming normal for pro athletes. 

4. Giancarlo Stanton 

Giancarlo Stanton may be more relevant at the moment than any of these athletes. Though he’s been injured for much of 2019, he’s set to star for the New York Yankees, who have positioned themselves among the favorites for the current MLB season. New Jersey’s own sportsbooks will have up-to-date odds on the MLB throughout the next several months, and if you keep an eye on them you’ll likely see the Yankees’ favorite status boosted even further when Stanton returns from injury. This is because he’s one of the most effective hitters (and power hitters) in the game - a former National League MVP and an intimidating physical monster by comparison to most baseball players. Stanton, too, is known to incorporate yoga in his personal workouts, and it hasn’t held him back from being as jacked as anyone in his sport.

5. Russell Okung 

Russell Okung is an offensive tackle in the NFL - which, naturally, means he’s a very big, very strong man. Okung has played for three different teams throughout his career (and is now with the Los Angeles Chargers). But he started with the Seattle Seahawks during their dominant run in the early- to mid-2010s. Those Seahawks groups were known for incredible team defense, an intimidating home crowd, and the dynamic play of quarterback Russell Wilson. But they’re also known to have prioritized yoga and meditation as a team, despite their fierce, physical reputation on the field. Okung has stated that these practices are as vital as anything else in his routine, and is another excellent example of a big, strong athlete benefiting from yoga.

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