While many professional pickleball athletes incorporate yoga into their fitness programs, few likely match the level of passion and enjoyment Anna Bright brings to the practice.

In her latest newsletter released on Saturday, Bright reflected on her yoga journey, revealing just how central it has become to her overall routine.

The world's second-ranked women's doubles player and third-ranked women's mixed doubles player is a dedicated yogi—and proud of it.

"One of the biggest blessings this year for me was getting into yoga," wrote Bright. "People would always ask me what my hobbies were, and I’d never really have much of anything to say. I’ve dabbled in yoga before, and by no means am I incredible at it, but it’s truly changed my life and started an extremely fortuitous series of events that have resulted in so much growth both as a player and person."

The 26-year-old South Florida resident got her start at Gro Yoga in Boca Raton where she is a member.

And the discipline has gradually taken on a greater significance for her well-being.

"Initially, yoga was more of a workout to me. And to an extent, it still is. But as I got better, I became addicted not only to the tangible improvements that pickleball no longer really gives me, but also to the extreme mental benefits I reap from it. I’d leave a class feeling calm, connected, and so much more "at home" in my body," expressed Bright. "I went from never really understanding setting an "intention" for your practice to regularly focusing on peace, presence, breath, or something else. Classes became a sanctuary, something I would seek out even on the road."

Bright insists that yoga has been a game-changer for her pickleball performance, and the results speak for themselves.

She certainly has the hardware to show for it.

"The yoga classes have helped me on court, too! Playing with Anna Leigh brings its own very real challenges—more pressure, more noise, and a lot more eyeballs. These things are mainly self-imposed, but that doesn’t make them any less real," explained Bright. "The tools and breathing techniques I learned in my classes have been MAJOR in managing my emotions so I could show up as my best self on court."

It’s a ringing endorsement for any pickleball enthusiast to give yoga a try.

The practice clearly has much to offer.

"The yoga has made me more present, calm, and open to trying new things. I even attended a breathwork class at Gro, which was a deeply moving and profound experience. We were provided notebooks at the beginning of the class, and here is a snippet of what I wrote in a frantic, emotional brain dump as the session ended," penned Bright. "I think my breathwork experience really inspired me to trust myself more and to actively seek out alignment and growth in my life in a way I never really consciously have."

Pickleball players may discover that a bit of yoga and breathwork can make a big difference.

And if it works for Bright, it could work for you as well.