As we enter another week of lockdown, many runners will be missing their weekly yoga class - a time to unwind and stretch out tired limbs. Yoga has a myriad of benefits for runners, but finding inspiration to practise during lockdown can be difficult.
Why is yoga good for runners?
Yoga has the ability to work on your strength and stamina as a runner (think a fast vinyasa flow or power yoga). The repetitive nature of a faster yoga class, where the movements are fluid, can be a great cross-training tools for runners. If slowing things down is more your thing, yoga can work on a runner’s core and balance. The longer holding patterns in yoga styles like Hatha and Iyengar develop core stability, body alignment, and balance, which can translate to better hip stabilisation. This improves the efficiency of every stride by decreasing lateral hip motion and wasted energy (while helping with issues like ITB!).
Finally, fully restorative forms of yoga such as yin can help you recover during training cycles. A minimal amount of time is spent on your feet and knees, and most on the mat, with a focus is on returning the body back to a healthy functional mobility.
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Where can I practise online for free?
To help simplify things, Lululemon have launched their ‘Community Carries On’ hub, with a dedicated section on yoga for runners. You can choose between a 20-minute practise for post-run recovery, designed specifically to help runners find a sense of release, ease and relaxation in their hips, hamstrings and feet.
There’s also a 45-minute practise to build stability and a 60-minute practise designed to calm the body and wash away the tension that accumulates from running.
We’ve also got a free, 10-minute post-run flow with yoga teacher Chris Miller, who specialises in yoga for sport and teaches at triyoga here:
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