It’s amazing what a quiet Sunday morning and time to reflect will do. The Podcast concept is maturing and will begin its life as a 60 second lecture. I’m calling it the Yin Yang Minute. The idea is you get the bottom line in 60 seconds and then can research the topic more if it’s something that interests you. I’ve been reviewing other podcasts and who has an hour to sit down and listen in hopes you will find some useful info? Not me!

Here are the supplements:

Vitamin D
Iodine
Fish Oil
Magnesium
MSM

1) Why no multivitamins? - every athlete has unique nutritional needs. Studies have shown that nutrient needs can very from person to person, even amongst twins! A multi-vitamin is only needed if you don’t eat real food.

2) I already eat healthy, do I need to take these supplements? Ultimately, the choice is yours. However, most athletes benefit from taking one or more of these supplements. These supplement are chosen because our American civilized lifestyle creates some nutritional black holes. The fact is every culture has these black holes, and so does every athlete. If you can identify these deficiencies, a whole new level of strength, speed, and mental toughness are available.

3) Should I take more? Maybe. True athletes always want more, more training, more practice, etc. The desire for more is at the core of what it is to be a competitive athlete. However, it is also the achilles heel of many athletes. Work with getting these five supplements right, you may find after that you have enough.

Zen story about “maybe”
Origin of the phrase achilles heel

Vitamin D

Sunshine exposure and vitamin D levels have been shown to influence, pain, heart disease, diabetes, parkinson's, cancer, infections, weight gain, mental health and many other conditions. Now that Spring has sprung, and the midday sun has enough power to activate your body's production of vitamin D, it's time to review your vitamin D supplementation.

1) Get your 25 hydroxy vitamin D levels tested. If you are lower than 65 you need to supplement and/or get out in the sun.

2) Get 15 minutes of midday (11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) sunshine on your face and arms each day. Any type of sunscreen or UV coating on glass will stop your body from making the vitamin D. Many face creams and even make-up now has sunscreen added.

3) Take at least 2,000 i.u of vitamin D3 a day even during the summer.

4) If you cannot get out in the sun regularly you need to take at least 5,000 iu of D3 a day.

5) If your test shows your vitamin D levels are low, you can take as much as 10,000 i.u a day to recover from your deficiency.

When I started coaching women’s lacrosse 13 years ago, it was immediately apparent that, unless they were injured, young women athletes were on their own. Unlike large Division I schools, whose women’s sports budgets are bolstered by money made from men’s basketball and/or football, Division III athletes make do without the support athletes need to maximize their health and success.

Female DIII athletes train, practice, and often play out of the limelight. They are often left to their own when it comes to nutrition, injury prevention, and cutting edge conditioning. This is just plain wrong! Gone are the days when DIII sports were simply glorified gym class. Today, many DI level athletes pass up scholarships because they want more in their life than just athletics. They chose Division III schools which provide a better balance between classes, sports, extra-curricular activities and social life. Athletes shouldn’t have to give up access to cutting edge training when choosing a DIII school.

The Yin Yang University was created to make sure women athletes at DIII schools have access to the best training information available. We will bring you interviews with the best and most interesting voices in sports nutrition, conditioning and psychology. We will provide information to make the transition from high school varsity sports to college athletics less bumpy and continue growth and success during all four college years.

Friend us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, subscribe to our RSS feed and get the information you need maximize your athletic success.

I love Seth Godin and read all his books. He thinks deeply about success in the business world and his insights carry over into sports. Today in his blog, Seth identifies two types of learning, the first based on technique and a second that goes beyond technique. As an athlete, it’s important to master your technique, but technique can only get you so far. There is another level of learning beyond technique. According to Seth there are two types of learning:

Type 1. You can take a class where you learn technique, facts and procedures.

Type 2. You can take a class where you learn to see, learn to lead and learn to solve interesting problems.

...The first type of schooling can even be accomplished with self-discipline and a Dummies book...

The second kind, on the other hand, is where all real success comes from....

Like a samurai, as an athlete, technique is everything, but it is also limiting. By focusing on technique during a game or event, your muscle memory is turned off and you cannot respond quickly or smoothly enough. Seth’s post helped me understand what Miyamoto Musashi, the famous Japanese samurai calls the most advanced level a samurai can achieve, the “no technique” technique of sword fighting.

Any technique or move has it’s limitations and your opponents (or the laws of physics) will find a way to stop you. Being attached to any one technique is the cause of the dreaded Sophomore slump where a highly successful Freshie struggles her second year. If you learn to adapt and change, “solve interesting problems,” as Seth says, you will understand the importance of technique, but not be boxed in by it.

Read the rest of Seth’s post here.
Learn about samuraI Miyamoto Musashi here.