How Yoga Can Improve Your Running Technique
by
Maia Appleby
 This
may sound crazy, but yoga and running have a lot in common. They both
require practice, agility, flexibility, patience and your own breathing
method. Runners who take up yoga often begin to love running even
more.
It's all too common for
runners to complain of shin splints, pulled
muscles, aching knees and hips. Many of these
(probably most of these) runners have put stretching
very low on their list of priorities, calling
it a waste of time. Truly flexible runners rarely
injure themselves and benefit greatly from combining
running and stretching, especially when they
take advantage of the many benefits yoga offers.
Runners primarily work
certain muscles, mainly in the legs and core.
Yoga, which utilizes all of the body's muscles,
including the often neglected stabilizers, makes
the runner stronger and better functioning as
a whole.
Runners tend to look
at running as a mission, battling the elements,
challenging physical limitations and meeting
personal expectations. Runners stay in touch
with their abilities, developing discipline
and self control. The whole body and mind connection
that yoga provides improves a runner's ability
to achieve goals and exceed past performance
levels.
Holding a yoga pose isn't
as easy as it looks! Take a class as you'll
see that yoga can be just as difficult as running,
and holding poses is a wonderful way to build
up muscular endurance, one of the most important
assets of a good runner.
Runners who count yoga out as a cross training activity are really
missing out on inmproving their technique. Aside from the MANY
OTHER HEALTH BENEFITS that can be derived from yoga,
it certainly can improve a runner's stamina, mindset and love for
the sport.
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