Atlanta Hawks center Zaza Pachulia slips out of his sneakers, kneels on a yoga mat and exhales.

Sitting on the back of his heels, Pachulia lowers his upper body onto his thighs. He stretches his arms out in front of him. With his body folded, only his long arms hint at his towering height of 6 feet 11 inches. Clad in baggy gray sweatpants, Pachulia smoothly glides from one yoga pose to the next Downward-Facing Dog, Warrior Pose and the Tree Pose.

Its a bit of an unexpected behind-the-scenes moment for an athlete known for playing a very physical game, not afraid to mix it up on the court.

Yet, this player best remembered by Hawks fans for his altercation with Celtics star Kevin Garnett in the 2008 playoffs credits yoga with helping his flexibility and balance and making his body feel good before and after games. Pachulia also noticed something else.

Guess what happened, Pachulia said with a big smile. My jump shot got better.

Three seasons ago, the Atlanta Hawks hired Michelle Young, a yoga instructor, to incorporate yoga into their training regimen. Its part of a growing trend of professional athletes turning to this ancient discipline to stay on the cutting edge to help players stave off injuries and keep playing. The Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Clippers have also reportedly hired yoga instructors. Meanwhile, although the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta Braves surely have their own serious training regimens, neither team has a yoga instructor.

Walt Thompson, associate dean for graduate studies and research in the College of Education at Georgia State University, said while weaving yoga into a training program is not a particularly new idea, he believes its a wise investment. Thompson said several studies suggest yoga can improve flexibility and reduce injuries, especially muscle strains and joint sprains that can keep athletes out of action.

With the demands of travel and an 80-plus-game schedule, Jeff Watkinson, strength and conditioning coach for the Hawks, said players are constantly battling muscle tightness and joint stiffness, especially through their ankles, hips, groin, hamstrings and low back. And yoga, he said, can help. (His favorite poses: Pigeon Pose for hips, Triangle Pose for hamstrings, groin and hips, and Child Pose for lower back and ankles.)

When I first started, I heard, We are doing what and why? Young said. It was hard to wrap their heads around something traditionally out of the norm of what an athlete would do but now I hear, I am glad you are here, and This is just what I need. When I can take their game to the next level, anything I can do to give them an edge, that feels great.

On a recent afternoon, Pachulia, along with Ivan Johnson, a Hawks power forward known for his occasional surplus of intensity, helped Young lead a yoga class for kids at the Athleta store in Atlantic Station as part of NBA Fit Live Healthy Week. The NBA players were there to encourage youngsters to eat their vegetables, study hard in school, get plenty of sleep and try new things in this case, yoga.

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Atlanta Hawks add yoga into the mix