Yoga For Runners - How Yoga Can Optimize Your Running Performance

p>Yoga and running are most often thought of as twoawareness on the breath, keeping a slow and steady
very different types of exercise, but the truth is thatpace. Yoga usually teaches you to breathe in through
they are actually a very good match. The combinationthe nose while keeping your mouth closed. This allows
of running and yoga is a great way to increase youryou to deepen your breath all the way to the bottom
physical shape and your performance.If you combineof the lungs. This allows you to increase the
your running routines with yoga exercises, you cantransportation of oxygen to the muscles, where it
improve your running performance and your well-being.becomes energy. Learning to breathe deeper also
Through yoga, you learn to control your breathing,increases your lung capacity which will automatically
which also optimizes your performance while running.increase your stamina.
Furthermore, yoga makes you more flexible andBesides getting more flexible and acquiring a better
therefore more resistant to damages while running.breathing control, you will also train other muscles
While running is a good cardio workout, then yoga isduring yoga training, which will add to your running
more directed at building strength and flexibility.exercise. Runners often have a tendency to have
However, you can easily get your pulse up duringtension in the shoulders and the neck, and these
yoga by practicing some of the more dynamic yogatensions will be loosened up during yoga practise.
types, which will definitely allow you to work up aBesides tension relief, yoga also helps you prevent
sweat. Many runners favour Astanga Yoga becauseinjuries and pain. Especially the knees, the hips and the
of the dynamic movements that provide strength,back are sensitive areas where runners often
flexibility and endurance.experience problems. There are certain yoga positions
During yoga practise there is a great focus on thethat focusing directly on these sensitive areas, thus
breath and you will learn to control the breathingstrengthening them and making them better shock
process. This will be of a great benefit while running, asabsorbers. Furthermore, runners who also perform
control of the breath will help you improve youryoga, are more likely to experience less pain after
performance. What is helpful is that you increase yourrunning, which is also a great benefit.