Yoga Man

How the Cowboys' Eddie George keeps himself on the field

Eddie George recalls that when he started doing yoga while with Tennessee seven years ago, "the perception was that it was a girl thing." If you're 6'3", 235 pounds and embarking on a career as a Pro Bowl running back, you're in position to change perceptions--which George did with the help of Nashville yoga instructor Hilary Lindsay. "I'd thought, He's an amazing athlete, what could I possibly teach him?" said Lindsay. "But when he couldn't even touch his knees, I thought, Yes! This guy needs me."

George, now a Cowboy, says yoga increases his strength, endurance and flexibility, making him more elusive and preventing injury--he hasn't missed a start in nine seasons. By now everyone knows yoga isn't just for girls, and last year George was on the cover of Real Men Do Yoga, in which Barry Zito and David Duval were also featured and in which the poses on this page are described in detail. "If you're comfortable with yourself, it shouldn't matter if a class is all guys or if you're the only guy," says George. "Yoga's just good for you."

POSING LIKE A PRO

WARRIOR I Stretches hamstrings while working glutes and quads and opening up the chest. "There's a sense of strength to it," says George. ADVANCED FRONT PLANK "This exercise is one of the hardest to hold," George says. It strengthens the arms and wrists while also working the abdominal core, which keeps him balanced while he has an arm and a leg in the air. TRIANGLE Stretching exercise targets legs, abs, hips and spine. Says George, "This also builds Hilary's biceps since she's holding me up in case I start to tip." WARRIOR III "It's hard to get my arms up where they need to be if they're sore from practice or a game," says George of a pose that strengthens the legs and the back while toning the abdomen. "You need to focus on a spot on the floor to balance."

EDDIE'S EATS

BREAKFAST An egg-white omelet with feta cheese, spinach and onions, and a glass of grapefruit juice. LUNCH Chicken breast or fish with brown rice. DINNER (below) Salmon with a baked potato and a diet coke. TREAT Plain New York--style cheese pizza, once a week.

COLOR PHOTO

NICK CARDILLICCHIO (GEORGE PICTURES)

WARRIOR I

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NICK CARDILLICCHIO (GEORGE PICTURES)

 ADVANCED FRONT PLANK

COLOR PHOTO

NICK CARDILLICCHIO (GEORGE PICTURES)

TRIANGLE

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NICK CARDILLICCHIO (GEORGE PICTURES)

WARRIOR III

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STEVEN FREEMAN (FOOD)