George Hirst has revealed he has started doing hot pod yoga in a bid to prepare himself for the stifling conditions which Scotland will encounter at the World Cup in the United States next month.
Steven Naismith, the national team’s assistant coach, has been heavily involved in the preparations for the finals and he admitted on Tuesday that high humidity will be a major issue for Andy Robertson and his team mates.
Steve Clarke’s men will play their opening two Group C matches against Haiti and Morocco in the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough and will then take on Brazil in the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
Read more:
- 'Best player in Scotland' Lawrence Shankland in contention for a World Cup start
- Steven Naismith makes Steve Clarke contract call ahead of World Cup warm-up match
- Juninho Bacuna on making World Cup history, Dick Advocaat, Rangers and Steven Gerrard
Temperatures for all of the games are expected to approach 30 degrees Celsius while the humidity looks set to top 70 per cent.
Hirst, the Ipswich Town striker who is hoping to win his ninth international cap in the warm-up friendly against Curacao at Hampden on Saturday, knows that adapting to the conditions will be crucial to Scotland’s chances of success.
“I got into hot pod yoga two weeks ago because I was trying to find something that would get me used to the heat out there,” he said. “I'm not a massive fan of the heat so it’s been good.
“It’s as simple as it sounds. It’s normal yoga in a tent that’s 40 degrees hot. It’s not easy but I love it. I’ve started to really enjoy it and I’ll probably carry it on after the tournament.”
Hirst played his last game for Ipswich, who he helped get promoted back to the Premier League this season, on May 2 and he is optimistic that getting a break from competitive football will help to ensure that he is in peak condition both physically and mentally when the World Cup gets underway.
“There's pros and cons with both playing and not playing, to be fair,” he said. “I think I've had the opportunity to not only have a little physical rest, but a little mental reset as well.
Read more:
- A Scottish referees' strike can be averted - but foreign officials aren't the answer
- Alex McLeish reveals reason Rangers blew the Scottish title - and it isn't Danny Rohl
- ‘Bad law’ booze ban is causing fan unrest in Scottish football and should be scrapped
“Because the Championship, with 46 games a season, games on Saturday and Tuesday, is hard on your body and is probably even harder on your mind at times.
“I have had a couple of weeks where I've still been in at the training ground, still doing my work, still doing my hot pod yoga has been nice. I have been able do that without any real pressure on my shoulders. I can enjoy it and relax a little bit mentally.
“But, at the same time, the lads who've just finished are going to be right at it and sharp as ever. They've had a game last week. So there's definitely pros and cons for both. I'm happy with the rest that I've had and the work I've been doing. I’m still raring to go.”
