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Complimentary Yoga Class for you... yoga for runners

Although yoga and running lie on opposite ends of the exercise spectrum, they are mutually supportive. They both require practice, agility, flexibility and your own breathing method. 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.

During the course of an average mile run, your foot will strike the ground 1,000 times. The force of impact on each foot is about three to four times your weight. It's not surprising, then, to hear runners complain of bad backs and knees, tight hamstrings, and sore feet. Runners primarily work certain muscles, mainly in the legs and core. Muscles act as the body's natural shock absorbers; ideally they should be soft, malleable, and supple, with some give. Brittle muscles, on the other hand, cause the joints to rub and grind, making them vulnerable to tears. Yoga, which utilizes all of the body's muscles, including the often neglected stabilizers, makes the runner stronger and better functioning as a whole. In addition, the whole body and mind connection that yoga provides improves a runner's ability to achieve goals and exceed past performance levels.

Yoga physically counteracts the strains of running and it teaches the cultivation of body wisdom and confidence. As you develop a greater understanding of the body and how it works, you become able to listen and respond to messages the body sends you. This is especially important in running, where the body produces a lot of endorphins. These "feel good" chemicals also double as nature's painkillers, which can mask pain and the onset of injury or illness. Without developed body intuition, it's easier to ignore the body's signals.

Many runners know that improving VO2 Max—aerobic capacity—is vital for running and racing success. Runners with a high VO2 Max have the capacity to pump large amounts of oxygen-rich blood to working muscles. Maximum oxygen intake is a crucial physiological variable determining performance and endurance for runners. Conscious breathing and pranayama exercises, which soothe the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems and relax the entire body, can be of great benefit to runners. This smoothing and lengthening of the breath slows the heart rate, regulates the heart rhythm, oxygenates the blood, and induces a feeling of calm and well-being. Additionally runners will benefit from the nonkinetic aspect of yoga: relaxation. When you're able to bring your body into a state of repose, you become more effective at using and conserving your strength, energy and speed.

Holding a yoga pose isn't as easy as it looks!

Contact Kerry NOW to book your complimentary class at:
BALANCE - Yoga and Well-being studio in Northampton
07779 030102 or email kerry@balancestudio.co.uk

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.