Source: Daily_Mail
Harry Redknapp is prepared to adopt yoga techniques to prevent injuries
Harry Redknapp has turned to yoga and pilates classes in a desperate attempt to boost the long-term fitness of his squad. [LNB]And the Spurs boss even got involved himself for one session but revealed he couldn't walk for two days after. [LNB] Hands up: Redknapp wants his squad to take part in yoga to prevent injuries[LNB]Spurs are fighting for honours domestically and in the Europa League this year and Redknapp, who only has two senior central defenders at his disposal, has turned to the helpof a yoga guru. [LNB]The newly installed instructor is the same one Brad Friedel brought to the club following his summer move from Aston Villa.[LNB]The 40-year-old stopper has been using his instructor for nine years, and she now takes classes for the squad, and coaching staff, prior to training.[LNB]It may be a surprising move by a man considered the most archetypal English manager in the top-flight, but the Spurs boss has revealed he is a big fan of the exercises.[LNB]'It's fantastic. We have been getting in to doing the yoga and I think pilates is just an amazing thing,' said Redknapp.[LNB]'It's great for the players. They are all doing it now. Brad Friedel started it here. He brought a lady in to start doing the yoga and if it's good enough for Brad with the shape he's in at 40, then it's good enough for the rest of us.[LNB]'It's brilliant. It makes the players more supple.[LNB]'Ryan Giggs is in to it, big time. It certainly has kept him in good shape.[LNB]'I joined in last week with all the coaches. I couldn't walk for two days but other than that it was good.'[LNB] Downward dog: Friedel has been using yoga since he was at Villa[LNB]The Spurs squad have taken well to the classes, according to young full-back Danny Rose, who credits the classes with helping him recover from thigh and ankle injuries.[LNB]'We have these yoga gurus coming in once a week. It's all right.[LNB]'I'd take yoga and pilates over running up and down hills any day.'[LNB]Despite his good intentions with the yoga, Redknapp is, ironically, facing a major injury crisis in defence ahead of tomorrow's Europa League Group A clash against Russian side Rubin Kazan.[LNB]Redknapp is without captain Ledley King, Michael Dawson, William Gallas and Vedran Corluka and admits 'central defence is a big problem for us.'[LNB]'We are really down to two central defenders.[LNB]'The problem is that we have no one who will be back fit at the weekend so if one of them gets a knock on Thursday, we will be bang in trouble for Sunday's game against Blackburn.'[LNB] Injury blow: Redknapp suffered another injury setback on Sunday when King limped off against Newcastle[LNB]Redknapp is likely to rest the majority of the team that drew against Newcastle, with Rose, Andros Townsend, Tom Carroll, Giovani dos Santos and Roman Pavlyuchenko likely to get be drafted in while the likes of Luka Modric, Gareth Bale and Scott Parker are rested ahead of this weekend's trip to Ewood Park.[LNB]For Rose, the Europa League campaign gives him a chance to push his claim for a place in Redknapp's first-choice starting eleven after a frustrating 18 months which began with him scoring a 30-yard screamer on his full debut against Arsenal, but has since been plagued by injuries.[LNB]Rose remembers the strike fondly, but now wants to move on and prove that he can play well on a regular basis.[LNB]'I still get fans coming up to me now talking about my goal against Arsenal. It's great they remember it,' Rose said.[LNB]'It was probably the pinnacle point of my career to date, but it was 18 months ago and I have to look to the future now.'[LNB] Redknapp: Modric would have gone if he'd disrupted Spurs squad We won't risk Ade: Tottenham boss Redknapp wary of playing striker against NewcastleCoe sticks to his guns over Olympic Stadium and dismisses 'white elephant' tag[LNB][LNB] [LNB]
