Glachaeva S.E.
State University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Kolomna

Keywords: fitness yoga, coordination abilities, and flexibility.

Introduction. One of the key aspects of physical development is the improvement of coordination abilities and flexibility, which play an important role in preventing injuries, developing the joint-ligament apparatus, proprioceptive sensitivity, and improving the psychoemotional sphere. Fitness yoga, combining elements of traditional yoga and fitness technologies, effectively develops these qualities through static-dynamic exercises, smooth transitions between asanas, and breathing techniques, promoting the development of coordination, flexibility, and balance.
The purpose of the study is to identify the dynamics in the development of specific coordination abilities and flexibility in 17-20-year-old female students who practice fitness yoga as part of a health club.
Research methodology and organization. The study involved 20 female students aged 17–20, who participated in a specially designed fitness yoga program for the wellness section twice a week throughout the academic year. The program included a warm-up with elements of joint gymnastics, a main part consisting of a set of asanas aimed at developing flexibility, balance, and coordination, breathing and relaxation exercises, and a final part with meditative practices. The pedagogical experiment was conducted on the basis of the State Social and Humanitarian University in Kolomna.
To assess the level of specific coordination abilities, tests were used for static (Romberg's Test 2) and dynamic (4 turns on a low beam) balance, for assessing the mobility of the shoulder joints, a test with a gymnastic stick was used, for assessing the mobility of the spinal column, the test "Bend forward from a standing position" was used, and for assessing the mobility of the hip joints, the test "Split on the right (left) leg" was used.
Research results and their discussion. During the pedagogical experiment, students in the "Fitness Yoga" section showed a positive statistically significant increase in all the studied indicators. For example, the average time for performing the static balance test increased by 17% (p<0.01), and the average time for performing the dynamic balance test increased by 20% (p<0.01). Shoulder joint mobility (test with a gymnastic stick): the distance between the hands when grasping the stick decreased by 10.6% (p<0.05), spinal flexibility (forward bend from a standing position): the average result improved by 24% (p<0.001), and hip joint mobility improved by 52% (p<0.001).
Conclusions. The results of the study confirm the effectiveness of using fitness yoga in developing specific coordination abilities and flexibility in female students. Regular classes significantly improved balance, joint-ligament mobility, and spinal mobility. This approach can be recommended for implementation in the programs of health-improving sections in universities as an effective means of developing students' physical qualities and improving their overall level of physical fitness.

References

1. Zolotova, M.Yu. and Maskaeva, T.Yu. (2023) 'Otsenka biokhimicheskogo sostava tela devushek 18-20 let pod vliyaniem razlichnykh vidov fizicheskoi aktivnosti' [Assessment of the biochemical body composition of girls aged 18-20 years under the influence of various types of physical activity], Fizicheskaya kultura. Sport. Turizm. Dvigatelnaya rekreatsiya [Physical Culture. Sport. Tourism. Motor Recreation], 8(2), pp. 59-62.