Padel. It’s THE sport of the moment, and once you try it, it’s easy to see why.
Its explosion in success seems to have come from nowhere, but in fact the sport has been around since the late 60s. Enormously popular in Mexico and Spain, it’s a combination of some of the best bits of Tennis and Squash, played in an enclosed court. As it’s almost always played in doubles, the sport has maintained its social roots. It's fast, fun, and physically demanding.
However, like any sport - particularly one that features repetitive movement - it can create strain on the body, and leave you open to injury.
Just add yoga
Now, it goes without saying that Yoga is so much more than just asana (postures). It combines asana, meditation and pranayama (breathwork) to form a holistic discipline for every facet of the self – your mind, body, spirit and your connections to the world around you. There’s no-one who won’t benefit from a yoga practice!
But if you play Padel and want to reduce the risk of injury, help you recover better, and create a whole-body regimen that helps you to feel balanced in body and mind, there’s no doubt that the physical aspects of yoga are worth a try - and who knows what else you may discover…
Yoga can help with:
Mobility:
Yoga can improve mobility through your joints’ range of motion, allowing you to find more ease, specially through your shoulders, spine and hips. This is incredibly beneficial for moving quickly around the court, as you reach for overhead shots and drop into deep lunges.
Core strength:
Yoga asana can help you to develop deeper core strength, which has massive benefits to your physical health, but in particular can create stability through quick rotations and pivots, and reduce the risk of lower back pain or injury.
Injury risk reduction:
Shoulder strain, hip and hamstring injury and ‘Padel elbow’ are all common complaints of Padel players. There is a lot of asymmetric movement in the game, as you swing powerfully with your dominant arm, and put stress onto hip flexors as you lunge. By developing a physical yoga practice, you will work on your balance and strengthen important stabilising muscles - especially in the shoulders, lower back and legs.
Focus:
A regular pranayama practice can help to reduce stress, aid lung function and improve mental clarity. Practicing meditation can allow you to stay calm under pressure - on and off the court!
Find a class:
The pace and pressure of Padel can be very strenuous. So, if you’re looking for a style of yoga class to complement your game it’s worth considering that some yoga disciplines, such as Ashtanga and Rocket are also very demanding on the body.
That’s not to say you should avoid them completely - movement is a gift, and the idea is to enjoy the things you love for as long as possible! But as with all things, balance is key…
So, a gentle asana class will beautifully complement the fast pace of Padel as you help to rebalance the body. Yin - a mostly floor-based practice themed around long-held poses that emphasise passive stretching would be a great option. If you like a little more flow, consider a slow flow class - deep delicious sequences that promote strength, balance and mobility.
To help regulate the nervous system and relax after a match, restorative yoga, where you are supported by props offer an introspective practice.
Yoga on the Edge has a wealth of yoga classes, experienced teachers, and an incredible community, so don’t be afraid to ask for advice. For the ultimate Padel and yoga combination, we have added Padel to our upcoming 2026 retreats, for an incredible immersive experience.