My Running Practice
November 19, 2008 by Susan Watiker
Filed under Fitness
I know I write a lot about yoga. But I also love running, and yoga actually is helping me increase my productivity on the road. I used to run long distance before getting into my practice. I loved it. It was relaxing, gave me time to think, and reduced stress, too. What it also did, I found, was make me a little less flexible. And, on occasion, I would even find myself hobbled and sidelined.
Now that I combine the two, I am finding it is a great fit. Yoga keeps me limber and increases my flexibility, which helps me prevent the injuries I used to experience when running was my primary form of exercise. The constant stretching and breathing exercises I practice in yoga help me maintain my strength and focus, which are very important. I found that when I wasn’t stretching as regularly as I am now in my practice, that demanding activities (like running) would more easily strain my muscles, joints and tendons, sometimes causing unnecessary injury to my feet and legs.
Yoga also reduces the tension in my body, which can easily increase the risk of injury, and sometimes cause permanent damage. And if you’re just a wee bit uncoordinated–like me–the added benefits of increased coordination, balance, concentration and endurance that yoga can bring to your running life are invaluable.
So if you’re a part-time (like me) or full-time runner, I think you should really consider adding yoga to the mix. It really does help stretch your muscles and increase the flexibility that you can’t always get from a good run. It will open up tight hips, improve your body’s alignment and help prevent hamstring injuries (ouch!).
Do them together, and I promise you will see results.
Peace.
I do yoga and spinning which is another great cardio workout. I’m just wondering in term of calorie burn, what’s more? (i’m asking because I don’t want to loose weight and I’m afraid of too many cardio might cause that)
thanks!
Hooray for yoga AND running :-)
I used to run and do yoga, then life got busy so I skimped on the yoga. Now I’ve been babying my left shin for about a month due to some sort of injury (shin splints, stress fracture, who knows?). I’m pretty convinced that the lack of yoga may have something to do with it, so now I’m trying to make sure I get in a short session every day…or at least do SOME sort of stretching!
RIGHT ON!
BOLD TYPE IT. YOGA AND RUNNING MUST GO TOGETHER OR ONE FALLS APART.
You are so wise! I love nothing more than going to yoga a day or two after a long trail run. My hips and IT band are always screaming for the pigeon pose and even though the lotus pose makes me cry, it does loosen everything up. Running and yoga were MEANT to be together.
It took me a long time to realize the benefits of stretching with running, but it’s so true! I am a much better runner for it and still need to do it more!
Great point- and even for the non-runner (ooh me pick me!), yoga is really good for helping with other exercises. It’s improved my flexibility SO much, and I think it has made me stronger and enjoy my workouts more. Its also great for the mental preparation it gives when you’re doing strength training and need to keep pushing yourself.
I couldn’t agree more! I run just about 6-10 miles a week, and I find that it’s helped me tremendously! I try to do a least one yoga session a week to stay limber, and I’ll stretch and do some poses while I watch TV in the evening. :)