When we talk about guns and yoga in the same sentence, many of you probably picture an Instagram-posed moment. However, what we’re talking about is how the practice of yoga can be beneficial to you as a shooter. That might come as a surprise, but it’s true. We’re going to share how doing yoga can translate to a better gun game whether you’re a defensive shooter, competitor, or long-range marksman.
Can yoga help you shoot better?
Yes, yoga can deliver positive results on target. That’s because yoga provides you with a number of benefits, many of which translate directly to being a better shooter, such as:
- Breath control, even in uncomfortable positions.
- Significantly greater flexibility.
- Improved patience.
- Better balance.
- Protection from injuries.
- Greater discipline.
- Stress reduction.
- Reduces anxiety which can mean better situational awareness.
- Heightened core strength.
- Stronger grip strength.
- Motor skill improvement.
- Smoother decision making.
Now that we’ve confirmed that yes, yoga has plenty of benefits that directly translate to better shooting, let’s consider exactly how and why it works that way.
Flexibility makes you a better shooter.
It might seem obvious that being more flexible means you can shoot better, but there’s more to it than overall flexibility. Regular yoga practice means you’ll have the ability to accomplish a wider variety of shooting positions without pain or struggle. In addition, better flexibility means a firm foundation while in certain shooting positions. For example, low kneeling can be a harder one to accomplish, especially without wobbling or shaking.
If you do enough yoga, you can not only get into a low kneeling position more quickly, you can stay there. If you’re thinking this only matters for taking range tests like are found in MAG-40, you’re not entirely correct. The reality of defensive gun use is that you have no way of knowing how a fight for your life is going to take place. You might need that low kneel or some other position that might otherwise be hard to manage, if not for yoga.
Improved core strength translates to being a better shot.
Yes, your core strength can improve dramatically with yoga. From planks to chaturange to triangle, there are endless poses that challenge your core. Stick with it and you’ll have some serious gains. So, what does this have to do with shooting? Whether you’re standing on a square range shooting holes in paper or doing shoot-and-move drills, greater core strength means a steadier hand and better accuracy on target. And if you’re working on various prone positions you’ll quickly discover that having a stronger core benefits you a lot.
For competitors, core strength means an easier time leaning back and forth as required and moving smoothly from target to target. Self-defense-focused shooters will find core strength makes a difference whether they’re on the firing line or running any number of drills. Also, you might be pleasantly surprised that having better core strength can mean less back pain.
Breath control makes every shooting style better.
Can yoga help long-range shooters and hunters? Absolutely. Among the other benefits, the breath control involved in yoga is incredibly helpful when tiny movements translate to huge issues down range. When you’re in a yoga studio you might be wondering what the point of mindful breathing is, but when you’re shooting you’re well aware that how and when you take a breath matters. If you can learn to breathe slowly and steadily, you’ll reap the rewards while shooting. And while this is especially useful for shooters at greater distances, it matters when you’re shooting up close and personal, too.
Don’t dismiss breathing exercises, and don’t tune out that part of yoga classes. It comes in useful on the range and also when you’re working to remain calm in a stressful situation.
Yoga improves situational awareness.
Here’s what being mindful can do for your safety: It helps you maintain situational awareness, only without the tension and potential anxiety you might otherwise experience. The various facets of yoga, from breathing to maintaining a pose you want to leave to constantly challenging yourself, all culminate in making you a calmer, more laid-back person. When you’re less tense, lots of things can happen like improved peripheral vision, better awareness of what’s going on around you, hearing sounds more easily, and reacting proportionally to potential threats (or the lack thereof).
The reality is that we live in stressful times. Everyone’s tension level has gone up and that’s led to a lot of people living in a constant state of greater anxiety. Overreaction seems to be becoming more common, and many people have become quite bold and willing to say or do things in person they were once afraid to express unless they were behind a screen. An excellent way to combat that is to be a more peaceful person yourself. This might sound counterintuitive, but it’s not. Things that might upset you or spur you to react in a rather extreme manner are often not nearly as big of a deal as they first seem if you only take a second to think about it.
The mindfulness of yoga teaches you to stop, process what’s happening, and make wise choices instead of reacting swiftly and aggressively. That mindfulness is incredibly valuable to gun owners, especially those of us who have an everyday carry gun. Existing as a calmer, more chill person must sound at least a little appealing, right?
As for the shooting side of things, guns and yoga go together like peanut butter and jelly. They’re two very different seeming things, but when you put them together the results are pleasant and universally appealing. It’s important to note that there are different types of yoga, and it seems that the poses of hatha and vinyasa tend to relate the best to a solid firearms practice, but your mileage may vary because everyone is different. Don’t give up on yoga just because you go to a single class and don’t vibe with the teacher or dislike the poses. Stick with it. Try another type of yoga or a different flow. The odds are good you’ll find one that suits you.
And the results? Well, you’ll see those on target, and we think you’ll be pleased.
