Breathe In, Breathe Out and Run - Yoga for Runners

If you are a runner, you know the effects of running on your body - you probably have strong lungs and great breath capacity, a powerful lower body for speed and endurance, and the mental strength to endure long distances. You probably also know the toll that running can take on the body - tight lower body muscles (think hips and hamstrings) which then also cause joint pain and achy back muscles. If you're a runner you need you try our Yoga for Runners workshop (THIS Saturday, May 21 3:00-4:15) with Dr. Jen Roth who is a long time marathoner and yoga teacher. Check out two of her favorite poses below:

Pigeon Pose

Pigeon is my absolute favorite pose and I try to do it daily. It is a great all- around pose for runners that targets the glutes, piriformis, IT band, hip adductors, and hamstrings- which are the areas that are generally tight after a run! The pose can feel intense at first, so I generally need to start slow and inch into it. I advance into the pose by lowering onto my forearms and eventually putting my forehead on the floor. If I’m feeling flexible, I bend up my back leg and grab my foot for a quadriceps stretch.

Pyramid Pose

Pyramid is my second favorite pose. It is a great pose for all the muscles of the posterior chain of the body, especially the hamstrings and calves. I like using blocks here so I can keep my spine straight and lower down until I feel the stretch behind both legs. It can also help decompress my lower back if I place my hands on the blocks or a wall in front of me. It is a relatively simple pose to incorporate into my yoga flows and pre/post run routine.

Ready to learn more? Click here to get information on our workshop and to sign up!