Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Robert Ayers is listed at 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds – size he needs to tangle with offensive linemen on a week-to-week basis.
But brute strength isn’t all Ayers needs to be successful. He also needs balance and stability, so the first punch from a tackle won’t send him backwards and take him out of a play.
The 30-year old, who joined the Bucs earlier this year after totaling 14 sacks in 24 games over the 2014-15 seasons with the New York Giants, is one of a growing number of NFL players using yoga to stay flexible.