The NFL offseason is a time for players to relax, but it is also an important period for body maintenance and strengthening.
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers takes this seriously and implements a weekly training plan that includes an unexpected type of workout.
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“Monday and Tuesday are usually upper and lower body,” Flowers told The US Sun.
He also focuses on eating right and partners with MyProtein to ensure he’s hitting his protein goals for the day.
“I take my vanilla protein from MyProtein and I usually have an acai bowl or a sandwich, something like that, just to gain weight and keep my weight right where I need it,” Flowers said.
“So I usually run routes, or run hills, or just do something like running to stay in shape.”
Between strength training and conditioning, Flowers finds a way to fit in an unexpected style of training.
One of the secrets to his success on the football field is actually Pilates.
Walking into a Pilates studio, you probably wouldn’t expect to find an NFL player on the boards, but Flowers shared that it’s a crucial part of her training plan.
“Pilates keeps me strong,” Flowers said.
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“It keeps my core strong and keeps me on the field. So I implement that into my workouts and go from there.”
Flowers shared that Pilates is an exercise he does on his days off every week.
“Every week, every Wednesday. Wednesday is my day off, so I do Pilates on Wednesdays,” Flowers said.
Pilates is an exercise that aims for a mind-body connection due to the control necessary to perform some of the movements.
The exercises included in Pilates sessions can achieve core stability, strength and flexibility, while also aiding muscle control, posture and breathing.
A variety of machines can also be included in Pilates workouts to vary the muscles targeted during training and the intensity of that training.
The US Sun was invited to a Pilates workout with Flowers, where he trained on a Pilates reformer machine.
This type of equipment uses a sliding plate that is resisted by springs of different resistance. Movements during workouts on a reformer machine focus on sliding the board to take advantage of the resistance of the springs.
Training with Zay Flowers
By sports reporter David Scott
I had the opportunity to train alongside Zay Flowers in one of his Pilates sessions and I underestimated how difficult the workout would be.
Pilates isn’t something I’ve ever tried, but I didn’t expect it to be so difficult. Flowers gave me a rude awakening when I trained with him.
Beside me, he didn’t sweat during the entire session while I was shaking trying to complete some movements.
“I saw you there, you had a little tremor,” Flowers told me after practice.
“But you’re fine, it’s your first time, so you get a pass.”
Some muscles I didn’t even know existed were screaming at the end of the session, and now I can completely understand why professional athletes would train in Pilates.
My core and legs became extremely sore and I feel that after more sessions I would see an increase in my flexibility.
During the workout, Flowers did moves like squats and lunges, but most of the moves focused on core strength. Many of the exercises ended with a core crunching or twisting movement.
The US Sun caught up with Flowers after practice ended to see how he felt after about an hour of exercise.
“I feel good! I feel good,” he said.
The 23-year-old didn’t appear to break a sweat during the training session.
When jokingly asked if Pilates could get someone into the NFL, Flowers laughed before closing the question.
“I do not know about that!” he laughed.
“It takes a lot more than just a few Pilates sessions to get there.”
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
