Bombers hope Wild’s way will foster improved health

By: Paul Wiecek Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Thursday, Jun. 19, 2014

Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Mike O'Shea is reluctant to use the word 'yoga.'

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Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Mike O'Shea is reluctant to use the word 'yoga.'

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Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea is reluctant to use the word ‘yoga.’

But if it cobras like yoga and downward dogs like yoga, it’s yoga. And the contortions the Blue Bombers have been doing after practice lately sure look an awful lot like an ancient practice that is becoming common among professional athletes.

O’Shea said Wednesday he asked linebacker Ian Wild, a yoga enthusiast, to lead the team in stretching after practice in hopes of preventing what has been a large number of muscle pulls in this year’s training camp.

“It does concern me because I’m responsible for player safety, too,” said O’Shea.

“So yes, I’ve asked Ian to lead a stretch. If you see Ian, he’s a professional. Ian does things the right way. And not just on the field — he does everything around the game professionally. So he’s a good influence…

“It’s a response. What I noticed was there weren’t enough guys stretching after practice. So if they’re not taking it upon themselves to do what I think is the right thing, then I’m going to coach them to do the right thing… And what better way than to have a guy who stretches after practice every day and seems to be in great shape and well respected.

“It’s some form of yoga, I don’t know… It’s stretching.”

Meanwhile, offensive tackle Jarvis Jones was new in sick bay at practice at Investors Group Field on Wednesday, but there was nothing wrong with muscles — O’Shea said he was sick.

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The Bombers also added non-import linebacker Mike Cornell and import receiver Mark Dell.

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @PaulWiecek