Yoga has been a stable practice for over 5,000 years across the world. It is believed that it originated in Northern India, by the Indus-Sarasvati river valley civilization. The sacred principles and practices have been passed down through generations, becoming more popular in today’s society especially in sports, reaching American River College’s women’s volleyball coach Carson Lowden.
Lowden started playing volleyball in the 7th grade among many other sports, including soccer, basketball and softball. Out of the four sports, volleyball became something more to her, and became her main sport—playing it all throughout high school. Years later, yoga had helped with the stress that came with coaching and playing.
“It is fast and dynamic,” Lowden says. “I loved how athletic I was and I was able to feel when I played.” She thought the coolest thing was being the setter, where she would set the play for her teammates to score.
Lowden got into coaching during her senior year of high school. She started the first Yuba City High School’s boys volleyball team and became the coach.
“I never knew that this is what I was going to do,” Lowden says.
When she got to college she was encouraged by her coach to pursue club volleyball coaching, believing it would help her play the game.
“The connections, relationships, and opportunity to help people grow and become the next versions of themselves are so special,” Lowden says.
She has been coaching for 20 years, 14 of them at a collegiate level. Lowden has coached at ARC since June 2016.
Lowden embarked on her yoga journey at a time where she was struggling. In 2014 when Lowden was coaching at University of California, Berkeley, the team wasn’t doing well, along with struggles in her personal life. . Yoga became a safe space for her, where she could accept and present herself.
“It was so powerful that I wanted to be able to share that with others which is why I decided to get certified to teach,” Lowden says.
Lowden now incorporates yoga into her team’s gym culture. The players get a taste of the yoga principles their coach follows. The team also participates in yoga occasionally and tends to enjoy it when it is practiced.
“They know it’s a big part of my life and why and how I go about things,” Lowden says. “I have found that the philosophical guidance yoga provides helps make our gym a safe space.”
Kyla Powell, a freshman on the team, says Lowden incorporates certain moves through their weight room training.
“As a team we’re so much more in tune with how our body works and it allows us to play more free and loose,” Powell says.
With the philosophical principles of yoga, the team ended the regular season with a 27-4 record and made it to the semi finals of the 3C2A State championships.
