These modern esports pros do yoga and work out

(All image credits in this article belong to The New York Times)

The New York Times made a feature article about European League of Legends team Origen and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive team Astralis with description of health-related routines established among players. Physical activity required from players is surprisingly intense and may seem off-putting for a regular gamer.

The article suggests that the decision to put gamers on a new regime comes from Rfrsh Entertainment, the owner of both teams, which also lists Blast Pro Series among its properties. Two years ago, Copenhagen-based company hired Kasper Hvidt, a former captain of Denmark’s national handball team who had no previous experience in the field of gaming to bring athletic self-improvement to the team.

           — As recently as last year, the players’ typical day might have been a sedentary extravaganza of sugary energy drinks, fast food and unresolved psychic tension. Now, their days are interposed with protein smoothies, yoga mats and slow-paced breathing exercises.

To achieve this result, Hvidt assembled a “performance team” with a physical trainer, a psychologist, a massage therapist, a medical doctor and a nutritionist. They worked together to construct lifestyle able to boost performance in the long term. Under new regime, players use bikes to get everywhere, do yoga, workout and eat healthy food.

Here is what Origen’s assistant coach had to say about the new team:

           — These are little things. But they add up, and over the long term you have a more emotionally stable team and a more focused team.

Read more about the modern-age changes in esports players’ routines on this page.