Defense tackle for the Tennessee Titans’ football team, Shaun Smith, has been practicing hot yoga since 2008.  It’s strange to think that the 300-pound-plus NFL football player is uber flexible and very zen because football is where necessary roughness happens – though, I’m sure yoga has helped him stay mentally focused in the game and has allowed his body to endure and recover faster from injuries.

Shaun began doing yoga to help him lose weight, and although he lost 22 pounds, he’s still  340!  Hey, he’s got to be big to endure those tackles on the field.  Not only is Shaun upholding his yoga regimen during off season, but he’s now teaching hot yoga.  He taught two classes at Hot Yoga Plus in Nashville, where the proceeds went to a charity he’s involved in called 91 Ways Foundation, which raises money for inner city kids and urban schools that are short on classroom supplies.

I have been noticing that football players are starting to acknowledge yoga as part of their seasonal training.  Just look at the New York Giants , who won Super Bowl XLVI .  So before Titans’ teammates crack jokes on Shaun for doing yoga, they may want to look into it and give it a try.

However, supporting teammates Michael Griffith and Gerald McRath went to one of the classes Shaun taught at Hot Yoga Plus.  Aww, that was sweet of them.

Shaun admits his comfort zone is football, teaching yoga not-so-much.

“I’m nervous about it a little bit,” he told News Channel 5. “It’s almost like me in my first game in the NFL. Little nervous, don’t know what to expect, but I’m going to wing it and see how it goes. I might have a future in this, you never know.”