Practice Makes Par-fect

Ron Mann’s Book “The Yoga of Golf” Lowers Scores and Blood Pressure

Perhaps Tiger Woods should consider hiring Ph.D. Ron Mann to coach him at next month’s Nissan Open. The world’s No. 1 golfer has conquered just about every course he’s ever played–except Riviera Country Club, where he has yet to win in six tries. At the very least, Tiger should read Mann’s recently-published book, “The Yoga of Golf” for the mental edge he has so far lacked at Riviera’s hallowed greens. Mann offers a powerful and profound approach to peak performance both on and off the course in an easy-to-read guide that will not only change one’s approach to golf, but life as well. “I hope Tiger reads this and gives me a call,” Mann joked. “The techniques I teach are valuable to players on any level, pros included, because so much of the game is mental.” Though he has yet to land a player as high-profile as Tiger on his resume, Mann’s clientele include the UCLA women’s golf team and Woman’s World Long Drive champion Lee Brandon. “I’ve been working with Lee for about a year and she drove the ball 332 yards,” said Mann, who aspires to work with PGA Tour players. “I happened to know the head coach at UCLA [Carrie Leary] and she had me come out and teach my focusing and breathing techniques to the team. They went to nationals for the first time since 1977 and finished fifth.” Mann grew up in Santa Monica, but has lived in the Muskingum neighborhood of the Palisades for eight years, mostly to be close to the Self-Realization Fellowship temple, where he is an active member. It took him only two months to write the book because it combines his two passions: golf and yoga. He started playing golf 40 years ago at the age of 16 and played on the Santa Monica High team. A disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda, Mann is a certified hatha yoga instructor and has practiced Kriya Yoga since 1979. His first book, “Sacred Healing: Integrating Spirituality with Psychotherapy,” reached the Los Angeles Times’ Healthy Bestseller list in 1998. “My first job was as a caddie at Brentwood Country Club, so I got to play for free,” Mann remembers. “It started off as a secondary sport to baseball, but I always loved the pretty environment and as I got older, it became a great tool for establishing business connections.” Off the course, 2003 was trying for Mann because both of his parents died. On the links, however, he hit the only two holes in one he’s ever hit–both on par 3s at MountainGate Country Club, where he is a longtime member. His lowest round ever is a 74, also at MountainGate. In addition to the book, Mann has released an audio CD, “Find the Zone: Master the Mental Game of Golf,” which has garnered positive reviews in Golf Magazine and is being sold worldwide. “It just made sense to put the two disciplines together,” Mann says. “I recently did a presentation for the teaching staff at Riviera and I’ll be a keynote speaker at the Southern California Golf Show [February 27-29] in Long Beach. All of the feedback I’ve gotten so far has been positive.” A licensed clinical psychologist, Mann worked in private practice from 1976 until 2002 before shifting his focus to writing. His devotion to Self Realization has given him an inner peace he had always longed for. “Paramahansa Yogananda’s teachings are crystal clear, profound and life-changing,” Mann says. “I just know this is right for me. There’s a real spiritual presence that is available to all of us and I’m wiser because of it.” Asked what golfers he admires most, Mann cited several: “I like Ernie Els’ rhythm and style. He really takes his time. Tiger, of course, because of his strong competitive spirit. I also enjoy watching Jesper Parnevik and Fred Couples. I generally try to emulate guys who have good timing and a good rhythm to their swing.” “The Yoga of Golf” provides a means to move past the limitations of the mind and open the doorway to what athletes frequently refer to as “the zone.” In 10 short chapters, the book provides practical techniques to quiet the mind through meditation, yoga postures for greater strength and flexibility and ancient wisdom for a more enlightened perspective on golf. “It’s unlikely that one’s body will do more than one’s mind believes is possible,” Mann says. “When one’s belief system opens, then greater achievements are possible. Here in America, when we think of yoga, we think of just the physical stretching. The fact is, though, yoga involves mental techniques that will change lives well beyond your golf game.” Whether you’re a PGA Tour pro sizing up a 10-foot putt that could be worth millions or a weekend duffer who simply wants to lower his score and enjoy the game more, Mann’s book is a drive straight down the fairway. The book was self-published and copies are available at www.ronmann.com.