Yoga and Shooting: 'Yoga Helps in Aiming Better'

While around 190 countries are preparing to make the first International Yoga Day a grand success, two-dozen young shooters are quietly practicing Yoga in a relatively lesser known but state-of-the-art shooting academy in Delhi. These shooters and experts are looking at various Yogic exercises to improve their shooting skills and are inconstant search for preparing a template that would help in perfecting their skills.

Shooting is a sport that demands a high-level of concentration and maintaining perfect body balance while aiming. Experts say that the correlation between Yoga and shooting comes in the form of having complete control over mind and body and all over the world shooters have realized the power of yoga and have started practicing it regularly.

Many young shooters in Topgun Shooting Academy in Delhi have made it a habit or a rule to practice yoga before going for shooting. Yoga instructor Dilip Thakur has been coming to the academy every alternate day and is very enthusiastic to see the impact Yoga has had on shooters.

Dilip Thakur has now customized the Yogic exercises according to the need of the sport. From game-specific yogic exercises, to breathing exercises, Thakur has developed a template that would increase the performance level of the shooters. He has emphasized on Pranayama, Tadasana & Uttanpadasana. While Pranayama helps in synchronizing mind and body, Tadasana ensures that at all the time body balance is maintained. Uttanpadasana develops and strengthens abdominal, hip and back muscles. He says that breathing exercises not only helps shooters to have a control over their mind but also but also helps in maintaining body balance during shooting.

According to Niyati Khanna of TopGun academy, who won silver in 10m Air Rifle event in Pune National School Games, "I used to score around 360 but after I started doing Yoga I have been shooting consistently around 390." Former international shooter and owner of TopGun Shooting Academy, Shimon Sharif believes that Niyati has the potential to make it big in the international stage and Yoga will be essential is having synergy over mind and body. According to Shimon, ''Earlier also international shooters used to do breathing exercises. Intelligent shooters understand it and use it to its maximum potential to reap consistent higher scores.''

In fact, one envisages a more direct relation between Yoga and shooting than any other game. Shooters have also realized it. But it seems it will still take a while to make Yoga a routine in the Indian camp.