At Mater Dei High School, where more than half of the students participate in sports, balancing intense physical demands with high academic workloads can be challenging. While the school offers a wide range of electives such as visual and performing arts, academic teams, and beyond, it is critical for busy students to choose courses that actively support their physical health and help prevent injuries. An often-overlooked option for physical health is the Yoga for Athletes elective. This course is specifically designed to complement student-athletes’ training and conditioning by improving flexibility, strengthening key muscle groups, and reducing the risk of common sports-related injuries.

By focusing on flexibility, applied anatomy, balance, biomechanics, and stamina, the Yoga for Athletes program helps athletes improve performance, reduce injury risk, and support recovery. In addition to its physical benefits, the course incorporates elements of sports psychology, equipping students with mindset tools for peak performance, emotional regulation, and resilience under pressure. By combining movement, mindfulness, and mental training, the class not only strengthens the body but also sharpens focus and promotes overall well-being, making it a valuable asset for students managing demanding schedules.

Freshman Wolfgang Strayer is on Mater Dei’s Frosh/Soph Volleyball Team and needs the strength and agility to succeed in his sport. Strayer elaborates on the injury prevention and aid that Yoga for Athletes provides.

“My favorite thing about the class is getting to be able to stretch and, if I’m in pain or if something is hurting on my body, yoga can help with that,” Strayer said. “The class also teaches different breathing styles that can help during sports.”

Strayer highlights the course’s advantage. He explains that the class plays an important role in reducing injuries and encourages other student-athletes to partake in the elective as well.

“I would suggest taking this class if you are in a sport [at Mater Dei] or a sport outside of the school,” Strayer said. “It could really help throw out injuries.”

Freshman Anabel Gonzalez is on the Cheer Team. As cheer is a contact sport, it is common to face injuries from collisions during stunts or with the floor while doing flips and tumbling. Gonzalez speaks on her rationale for choosing the elective. 

“I wanted to do something that would benefit me and my sport,” Gonzalez said. “Yoga for Athletes helps us to stretch and target our muscles that are prone to getting hurt and injured.”

Junior Leyla Maldonado holds the role of a flyer on the Mater Dei cheer team. She is lifted, thrown, and held by bases in stunts. While she is in the air, she needs to perform body positions correctly. That means flexibility is indispensable for her, as is the ability to stay light and hold those positions while not standing on a perfectly stable platform. Maldonado states the extra assistance from the course and how it has allowed her to flourish in her sport.

“[The class] has definitely helped me with stretching because I feel like it’s gotten me to be more flexible,” Maldonado said. “So as a cheerleader, it is important that I can do certain positions that require that flexibility.”

Although Yoga for Athletes focuses on injury prevention and physical conditioning, it also provides students with an opportunity to step back and recharge from the pressures of daily life. Between demanding practices, games, and academic responsibilities, student-athletes often face high levels of stress, making it essential to find time to reset both physically and mentally. Through controlled movement, relaxation, and mindfulness, yoga creates a calm environment where students can finally take a deep breath and regain a sense of balance. This mental break not only supports overall well-being but also allows athletes to return to their sport and studies with greater clarity, composure, and resilience. Maldonado shares her final thoughts and encourages those who value their health to consider taking this class.

“I definitely would recommend this class, because it’s a way to de-stress,” Maldonado said. “If I just have a bad day at school, or if I’m very stressed, I feel like it’s just a way to wind down and not be on any electronics.”