Chukka Wellness
Knowledge
India Parker-Smith founded Chukka Wellness – a company dedicated to helping polo players become fitter and stronger athletes. For several years, India worked as a Personal Trainer at one of Chelsea’s premier private members’ clubs and began to train some of the world’s leading sportsmen and women. India trains both international and UK polo professionals focusing not only on functional movements and body maintenance, but also advising clients on fuelling their bodies correctly for mental alertness and physical endurance. In this series Chukka Wellness founder, India will be suggesting specific exercises required to complement each type of shot in polo to give players a more accurate, controlled and powerful swing ready for when they next jump back into the saddle. India recommends adding in exercises that aim to stabilise the shoulder and hip joints, strengthen the surrounding muscles and improve core control
The Neck Shot The Chukka Wellness polo-fitness series
Last month the winter arena season came to an abrupt halt all thanks to a second lockdown! Due to the lack of riding, players may have found their polo-fitness may have slipped slightly. With this extra free time Chukka Wellness recommends players to use this down time to focus on their swing technique and apply exercises that simulate these movement patterns in to their fitness programme (along with the exercises suggested below you will also find lots more in our online equine membership hub). Regular stretching and mobility combined with an element of resistance training would be the ultimate body maintenance
programme to ensure players stay polo-fit and ready for the next season. This type of shot requires • Balance • Accuracy • Supple Torso • Strong Inner Thighs Recommended Exercises (3 sets, 15-20 reps per exercise)
Photography by Chukka Wellness
Slider Lateral Lunges (Inner thigh strength) 1. Grab a slider or folded towel and find a slippery surface 2. Start with feet close together and one foot planted on the slider/towel 3. Gently slide this foot away from you (keeping the leg fully extended) and drop down into a lateral lunge 4. Stay strong and stable through the planted leg (you should feel your glutes working to hold you in this position). 5. Gently slide the foot back towards the other leg finishing in standing position 6. You should feel your inner thighs activate as you pull your leg back to the start position.
Slider Lateral Lunges
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Polo Times, December 2020 / January 2021
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