Yoga for Runners

Yoga for Runners

Take a yoga class for runners to build strength, increase balance and prevent injury. www.runnersworldonline.com.au

Question by Katie: This is my routine, but I think I might need some help?
Sunday- Upper body strength training and cardio
Monday-Lower body strength training and cardio
Tuesday- Off day
Wednesday-Yoga
Thursday- Off day
Friday-Upper body strength training and cardio
Saturday- Lower body strength training and cardio

This is my plan, from now on, I need some help choosing which machines are best for upper and lower body. For lower body I'm for sure using hip adductors and abductors to strengthen my thighs because I'm a runner but having weaker thigh muscles I got runners knee, also I'm a skier so this helps with that as well. Otherwise I need help choosing the best machines to use.

Also my diet is healthy and I have that under control, this is the only area in which I need suggestions.
Natalie you're wrong, that's not what I asked. I'm going to school to be a doctor I don't have any time on those days to exercise, and I'm not going to cause myself muscle injury because you're a moron.

Best answer:
No offdays

Runners Get The Most Benefit Of Yoga

Article by Linda Adams

Yoga and running - your immediate thought would be "no relation, no connection, complete opposites!" People think of Yoga and visualize gentle moves, relaxed muscles and deep breaths in and out. On the other hand, running has none of the above. Unbeknown to many is the harmony in the body created by the combination of these two exercise forms.

These two forms have the same important elements, which aren't that obvious except to one who has done both.

Just take note of the similarities between Running and Yoga. Both forms of exercise have:

-Flexibility

-Breathing techniques

-Discipline

-Concentration

-Practice

Yoga does more than enhancing the runner's performance. It adds an important dimension to the athletes' training programs. From among Yoga's numerous benefits to the body, runners gain improved accuracy and precision. These benefits aid them immensely, keeping the damaging effects of running from their bodies.

The benefits to a runner's body from yoga have been proven. Running one mile, according to health experts, is tantamount to one of your feet hitting the ground a thousand times. Furthermore, three to four times the runners' weight gets absorbed by the hips and lower limbs. This tendency consequently brings on stiffness and pain and injury, a condition most runners usually go through.

However, these damaging effects to the body are not usual consequences to running. Health experts say that these injurious reactions occur because heavy running puts the body out of balance. A case that is easily preventable by performing an integration of Yoga into typical runners' programs because Yoga's usual corrective effect on the body's posture will bring back the balance.

Research has shown that long-term intense running develops a tightening and reduction of the athletes' muscles. This is because of the muscles being used only on the same routines daily. In time, this repetitive exertion of the same muscles on the same actions lead to pain and even injury. The rest of the body reacts and tries to compensate for the imbalance by stressing on the other joints and muscles.

It must be remembered that all the systems in the body are interrelated. An unusual action of some parts results in pain or injury to other parts. Shin splints, a usual injury experienced by runners, for instance, results from the improper distribution of weight on the legs during the running activity.

This is where Yoga comes in to provide its benefits to runners. Yoga moves focus on muscle stretching and relaxation which decreases the occurrence of these injuries or pains.

Presently a program is being popularized for runners which integrates Yoga to the usual runners' training. This new training now involves not just strengthening and massaging the muscles used in running but also relaxation and meditation. This new development has converted runners' training from endless exertion of muscles to breathing techniques, muscle extensions and stress-alleviation actions and postures.

The program is designed to stretch the hamstrings and calf muscles to avoid soreness and injuries caused by running. At the same time, it toughens the back, core and arm muscles and helps in correcting postural misalignment. Thus, optimal running performance is developed.

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Orignal From: Yoga for Runners