Sports Programs
Dana Santas, founder and director of Radius Yoga Conditioning (RYC), has extensive experience creating team- and athlete-specific RYC programs in professional sports through her work with numerous teams and hundreds of athletes and coaches in MLB, the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLS, including Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, Tampa Bay Rays, Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs, Toronto Blue Jays, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, Charlotte Bobcats, New England Patriots, Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns, Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning, New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs and Chivas USA. She also has experience with triathletes, cyclists, runners and golfers, and has conducted golf conditioning workshops at pro venues, including the Tournament Players Club (TPC). Although RYC specializes in working with professional athletes, clients also include serious collegiate, amateur and youth athletes, as well as High School and College Teams. For information regarding a specific sport, select it from the Sports drop-down menu. To learn about youth athlete/team programs, visit the Youth Sports page.
RYC sports programs are available in a variety of formats, all customizable according to the team or athlete’s needs. For private athlete training, check out the Private Training page. For teams, programs range from training camp clinics to ongoing sessions/consultation/retainer work (available both in- and off-season) to the creation of customized videos and manuals. Work with teams can focus on any number of areas, including, but not limited to, complementing other conditioning, rehab facilitation, and dysfunctional movement assessment. Any combination of onsite sessions, online Skype/Facetime sessions and manual & video deliverables can be created to accommodate a team’s needs.
Access to the Private Client Portal ensures quick downloads of all team deliverables and accessibility for all designated players and staff (i.e., all staff & athletes can download RYC videos to their iPhones/droids, iPads/tablets, and computers). DVDs of custom programs are also available with copyright agreements for duplication and distribution to all team members/staff.
RYC is based in the Tampa Bay area but training is conducted throughout North America and online internationally; inquire regarding program options that can effectively bridge the distance gap and eliminate/keep travel fees at a minimum. Mats and props (blocks and straps) required for sessions are available for purchase or rental.
Unlike other forms of yoga that claim benefits to athletes, RYC never focuses on teaching athletes a traditional set sequence of postures. RYC also never claims it should be an athlete’s only source of conditioning; yoga can’t replace other parts of an athlete’s training program (i.e., agility drills, weight training, plyometrics, cardio, etc.). Instead, all RYC programs are custom designed to meet the needs of each athlete’s sport and body, while also complementing other conditioning and treatments in the context of the playing schedule (training camp, in-season or off-season). This is accomplished through consultation with all training, medical and coaching staff involved in the athlete’s and/or team’s conditioning.
One of the major benefits of RYC Sports Programs is the correction of imbalances brought on by the sport’s particular movements (and associated injuries); the compensation of one area of the body weakens another, so creating balance reduces injury and restores movement along the kinetic chain. But that’s not all. Enhancing balance and strengthening the core creates a stable foundation for transferring strength and flexibility into movements with even greater force, power and range. And don’t forget the mental game—every sport has one. That’s why RYC trains athletes to link body, mind and breath in a way that heightens awareness and clarity to effectively avoid mental stress and hone their focus during play. Additionally, strengthening the mind and body connection through proprioceptive exercises in all planes of motion enhances neuromuscular efficiency, which increases body responsiveness, control, and accuracy of movement. All of these benefits can translate directly into better play and longer careers!
For information regarding a specific sport, select it from the Sports drop-down menu. To learn about youth athlete/team programs, visit the Youth Sports page.