ASHWEM: Madonna and Sting have copied his postures and meditated the way he told them, a certain Mario Gotze who scored Germany’s winning goal in the World Cup finals, is his dedicated discipline along with many players of the German team who attended his Yoga sessions at the teams World Cup base camp in Brazil. In Goa for the India Yoga festival at Ashwem, American yogi Patrick Broome, spoke one to one with Herald, on his role in preparing the World Cup champions.
Herald: How do you think Yoga helped the national football team of Germany at the FIFA World Cup 2014?
Patrick Broome: Yoga benefits a soccer player at the professional level in many ways. For starters, it helps them prevent injuries because it makes the body more flexible. It helps them to build strength in muscles, which they usually don’t use. The most important thing is that it helps them to have more awareness in what they do and helps them to relax. Especially in a tournament like the World Cup, when the players used to get out of the stadium, they used to be really nervous and there was anxiety in their body. During an intense atmosphere like that of a World Cup, even if the team wins, there are endorphines in the body and I help the players with easy sequences and relaxation to calm down.
Herald: What was the experience of being with the German team during the World Cup like?
Patrick Broome: Oh, it was an amazing experience! I have been with them for three years and this was my first World Cup with the team. Prior to the past edition of the World Cup, Germany had always been reaching till the quarter-finals or the semis before losing to another team. So this time, winning was amazing. And it was in Brazil…I mean, what can I say? Goa reminds me a lot of Brazil, especially the palm trees and the wonderful weather (laughs).
Herald: What was the nature of the Yoga sessions that you used to conduct for the team?
Patrick Broome: The sessions were voluntary in nature. I used to conduct daily classes to the team on a specially designed wooden platform overlooking the beach at the German football team’s Brazil base, Campo Bahia. Not only the players but their wives, girlfriends and coaches also participated in the sessions. The focus was on stretching the upper body and the hips, legs and feet. Some of the players came regularly whereas others switched. I used to do an hour-long session – mostly consisting of easy mobilization, some easy movement, stretching, Iyengar Yoga, and then deep relaxation and short meditation. Players like Mario Gotze, Manuel Neuer and Mats Hummels were avid regulars. Apart from them, the other goalkeeper, Roman Weidenfeller and the right wing defender, Benedikt Hoewedes used to be there for the sessions every single day.
Herald: Since when have you been practicing Yoga and how did you get into this full-time?
Patrick Broome: I have been following Yoga for the past 20 years. I’m an American but I have been living in Germany. I was studying Psychology at the University and there we did some Yoga. I was attracted and I studied deeper. I have visited India many times before and have learnt Yoga through various sessions in Rishikesh, Varanasi, Kerala and other parts of Southern India.
