Posted June 09, 2014

LeBron James had no issues Sunday after cramping up in Game 1. (Christopher Trotman/NBAE/Getty Images)

After debilitating leg cramps took LeBron James out of action during the final minutes ofGame 1, both James and the Heat were more proactive in readying his body for the rigors of Game 2. That included, among a more extensive hydration regimen, James decision to attend aSunday morning yoga class at the Heats team hotel in San Antonio. I imaginethere was some surprise among the casual yogis who entered the makeshift studioto find James a 6-8, 250-pound behemoth knocking out a firefly pose as a warmup.

One thing I did do differently this morning, I took an 8 a.m. yoga class at our resort that we stayed at outside, James explained after Game 2. Me, and three other people and also a little kid but he didnt want no parts of it. So thats probably the only thing that I did differently today.

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This is far from a one-time occurrence for James, who has been active in the discipline since his days in Cleveland.

Yoga isnt just about the body, its also about the mind and its a technique that has really helped me, James told Brian Windhorst (then of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer) in 2009. You do have to focus because theres some positions that can really hurt you at times if you arent focused and breathing right.

Upon his arrival in Miami, James also credited yoga for his supernatural level of endurance. Only Kevin Durant has logged more total minutes since James joined the Heat in 2011.

I do Pilates and yoga, just try to stay above the curve to get to this point, James said in 2011, per the Miami Herald. So, I mean, I feel like its helping me. Does it work for everybody? I dont know. Im not a guru about how to be in the best condition, dont let me sit here and tell you that. But it works for me.

James is hardly the only Finals-relevant player to dabble in yoga as a means of physical maintenance. Dwyane Wade added it to his game preparation, in part to loosen his hips. The Spurs have also coordinated yoga sessions as a team for years, and may have a leg up on their Finals opponents:

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LeBron credits yoga for helping cramping issues