Knowledge
Chukka Wellness
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 effective, controlled and powerful swing. India recommends adding in exercises that aim to stabilise the shoulder and hip joints, strengthen the surrounding muscles and improve core control
The Nearside Forehand
The Chukka Wellness polo-fitness series
Chukka Wellness works with polo players all over the world and has noticed a reoccurring issue that many players do not prioritise their own health and fitness during the busy polo seasons. Many suffer in silence with injuries caused from bad falls, years of not stretching after playing and repetitive strain problems. Polo is a very physically demanding sport and requires a high level of athletic prowess in order for players to perform at their best!
This type of shot requires • Torso and Back Flexibility • Shoulder Mobility • Upper Back Strength • Strong Inner Thigh • Strong Glutes Recommended Exercises (three sets, 15-20 reps per exercise)
Torso & Back Stretch (Improve upper body movement) 1. Widen your stance and lower your upper body to the ground with your arms completely relaxed 2. Slowly walk both hands over to one foot and rotate your torso round to the side 3. Pause and then walk the hands over to the other foot and rotate the body in the other direction
• Upper Back Strength • Strong Inner Thigh • Strong Glutes
Torso & back stretch
Extended Arm Rotations (Improves shoulder mobility) 1. Stand with feet hip width apart with a slight bend in the knees 2. Fully extend both arms keeping your shoulders back and down 3. Rotate your shoulders backwards and forwards in a semi-circle motion
Extended arm rotations
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Polo Times, September 2020
www.polotimes.co.uk
Photography by Chukka Wellness
Recommended Exercises (three sets, 15-20 reps per exercise)
