UFC SUPERSTAR CONOR McGregor credits yoga as one of the key factors in his incredible flexibility levels and Tipperary footballer Robbie Kiely is following suit.
The man who transferred to Cork outfit Carbery Rangers from Arravale Rovers earlier this year suffered with recurrent hamstring problems until finding a solution.
A flare-up would leave Kiely, a 2010 Munster U21 medallist, twiddling his thumbs on the sidelines for six weeks at a time.
But the adventurous defender is hailing the wonders of yoga for an injury-free 2014, and another uninterrupted run this year.
Travelling from Courtmacsherry, Kiely negotiates a four-hour round-trip for collective sessions in Thurles.
When he gets back to his West Cork base, Kiely loosens his tired muscles by following yoga videos on YouTube.
“For a lot of years, hamstring injuries came at me and hindered my progress,” Kiely reflects.
“They were setting me back for six weeks every year but this year and last year are the only years I haven’t had hamstring injuries.
“I got persuaded into a bit of yoga by our physio Marie Aherne and what Conor McGregor does is all about being flexible.
“That’s the key to staying injury-free for me. It took a lot of persuasion, there’s a yoga class in Courtmacsherry that’s full of oul ladies and it’s going to be a struggle to get me into that.
“I have a few YouTube videos and chill out for half an hour after a gym session.
“I put on my playlist and listen to music, doing it my way.
“I try to get my body loosened up after two hours in a car after a hard training session.
“I could be in the car at 4.30 to make it to training and it’s 11.30 or 11.45 that night before I’m back home and can relax again.
“After some training sessions in early January I’d be crawling around the car but it’s made me a bit better now in terms of flexibility.”
In Tipp’s Munster quarter-final victory over Waterford, Kiely was used in a free role and provided an extra body when the winners flooded forward.
“We were surprised to see that Waterford had left a lot of players behind the ball and basically I had to push up on my man when I could, from the kick outs which we have been doing all year.
“It was a change for me, I normally play wing back but went to corner back so I was winging it more than anything else. It wasn’t too bad!”
Tipperary face an infinite step up in class against Kerry at Semple Stadium tomorrow but Kiely is relishing the visit of Kieran Donaghy, Colm Cooper et al.
“I can’t wait. The last time we played Kerry we got a right trouncing down in Killarney but coming up against the Gooch, Donaghy, and (James) O’Donoghue, it’s just the stuff you love to see coming.
“As a sportsman, you want to go out and try and compete against the best and there is no doubt that they are currently the top team in Ireland, one that we want to beat and meet with enthusiasm. But we have to be careful all the same as well.”
