West Brom midfielder Gareth Barry thought yoga was for older women... but changing his mind made him a Premier League record breaker

• e-mail

Premier League record breaker Gareth Barry has put his longevity down to overcoming a prejudice of yoga.

West Brom's Barry, 36, will surpass Ryan Giggs' record of 632 Premier League appearances at Arsenal on Monday and is glad he ignored his embarrassment when advised to take up yoga in his final season at Aston Villa eight years ago.

'I had an old school mentality and thought it was for older women trying to get supple down at the health club,' he admitted.

West Brom midfielder Gareth Barry is set to break a Premier League record on Monday

He will surpass Ryan Giggs as the Premier League player with most-ever appearances — 633

'I didn't want team-mates looking at me and going “What's he doing?” That's sometimes the pressure of being a footballer.

'But I decided to embrace it and have seen the benefits even when you have to take the banter from the lads when they're on the exercise bikes.

'It can be hard work sometimes thinking you've got to do yoga in the morning but you come away feeling much better, ready for training, ready for a game.

'Ryan Giggs started it and it's slowly taken off. I'll come into the dressing-room now and seven or eight players will be doing it.'

Giggs has been among those to send his congratulations to Barry who won the Premier League title with Manchester City before joining Everton and then Albion.

He began Premier League life at Aston Villa, and credits his longevity to one important change

During his last season at Villa Park, he was convinced to take up yoga and never looked back

Fernando Nelson and Dwight Yorke were the only “foreigners” in Villa's team when Barry made his debut in 1998 and he thinks increased competition makes it harder for today's generation.

'You look at the squads now and you really need to be at that special level to break through. The younger lads are battling against top players from across Europe,' he said. 'There's more rotation now as well so it's tougher to play every week.

'I was interviewed by Phil Neville and there was a nice message from Ryan on his I-pad. I know Ryan also played games before the Premier League so maybe his overall record (672) can be the next target.

Barry isn't finished yet. His current contract runs until May with an option to extend and he says: 'I’m more than up for staying for more than one season.'

Barry admitted he moved to West Brom as he didn't want to be on the fringes at Everton

Indeed, his decision to move to The Hawthorns rather than be a bit-part player at Everton suggests someone with something in the tank.

'Ronald Koeman wanted me to stay around, he wasn't happy with me (leaving). But for me running out in the Premier League is what I've always enjoyed doing and I just didn't feel I'd be close enough to the action at Everton.

'Part of me thought there would be less pressure on me at Everton, not starting games and less expected of you. But I didn't want to fizzle out which I might have done there. I wanted one last challenge.'