PUBLISHED 01/15/2008
You might not think of yoga when you think of cross-training. Think again. Practicing yoga benefits your other athletic activities, particularly running.
"The main reason most people start yoga is for stress reduction," says Sharon Stocker, mind/body editor of Prevention magazine and a veteran yoga instructor. "And it's great for that. But they soon find out how much it does for their strength and flexibility, too."
Many runners favor Ashtanga yoga, because it's more fluid and requires moving quickly, like in an aerobics class. No matter which type you choose, your running will benefit. "Yoga realigns the body and releases tension from connective tissue," says Stocker. The musculoskeletal realignment comes from stretching and an emphasis on proper posture.
The result: More flexibility (misaligned muscles are stiffer and less efficient) and reduced injury risk. As for strength, many people think yoga amounts to a lot of sitting around and meditating. Not so. It's more like modern dance. You're continuously striking poses that resemble leg lunges, squats, pushups, handstands, and the like. After 30 minutes of these movements, you know you've gone through a total-body strength workout. And better overall strength can only help your running.
Mentally, yoga is a lot like running in that it requires you to focus on the present. Like a beautiful trail run, yoga is great at silencing the endless chatter in your brain. Says Stocker, "Yoga teaches you to be in a graceful place, an effortless place. It isn't about competition at all."
Want to learn more about yoga, and how it can make you a better, stronger runner? Check out our Yoga for Runners section!
