Best Yoga Poses for Runners (And Why You Need Them)

I’ve been a aggressive distance runner for many of my life. I’ve gained state championships, represented america at worldwide occasions, and, as an grownup, taken my operating to the highway.

For years, I assumed that yoga was too boring, too simple, and too sluggish to be useful to runners. I assumed that working towards yoga to strengthen my core, legs, or higher physique would pale compared to working towards precise strength-training workout routines or weight-lifting exercises within the gymnasium.

Later, once I grew to become a private coach, I diversified my exercise routine and advocated for my shoppers to do the identical. I began to incorporate biking, rowing, triathlon coaching, and climbing amongst my pursuits. However not yoga.

Nonetheless, after experiencing varied accidents and, ultimately, dabbling with a newbie yoga class right here and there, I found how improper I used to be—and the way useful it was to include yoga into my exercise routine to cut back tightness, improve core strength,  even improve restoration.

Forms of Yoga Poses for Runners

Working towards yoga has helped me develop an exponentially stronger mind-body connection—which is actually an consciousness of my physique and myself. It sounds easy, however it could actually take time to domesticate it. The outcomes are value it.

1. Poses That Interact the Core

As athletes, we’re consistently informed to “have interaction your core.“ I usually felt like I used to be doing that once I was exercising, but it surely was solely after I began working towards yoga constantly that I spotted I hadn’t been participating all of my core muscular tissues.

The “core muscular tissues” are far more all-encompassing than simply the rectus abdominis, which is the “six-pack“ muscle that runs alongside the entrance of your abdomen. Your core additionally contains the interior and exterior obliques alongside your sides, the deep transversus abdominis that encircles your complete torso like a corset, and the deep muscular tissues within the decrease again, together with the erector spinae group, the multifidus, the pelvic ground muscular tissues, and the diaphragm.

Beforehand, once I was operating, weightlifting, or doing another kind of exercise, I discovered I may contract my abs, however I didn’t appear to have the ability to consciously join with my deep core muscular tissues. Incorporating core-strengthening yoga postures, resembling Boat Pose and Chaturanga (Low Plank Pose), into my coaching has radically improved my means to consciously draw on these important muscular tissues when operating, biking, lifting weights, utilizing the rowing machine, even shifting about in my on a regular basis life.

As a result of these neglected muscular tissues play an integral function in serving to brace the core and stabilize the backbone, my yoga apply has helped me lower accidents, facilitate higher respiration mechanics, and enhance my operating financial system.

Finest Yoga Poses for Runners: Strengthening Core Muscle tissue

Side Plank Pose
Chaturanga (Low Push Up)
Boat Pose
Plank Pose

2. Yoga Poses that Improve Flexibility and Assist Restoration

Operating, climbing, and repetitive endurance workout routines left me chronically tight in most of my muscular tissues and connective tissues. However yoga has helped my flexibility and mobility in addition to my restoration from coaching exercises. I particularly like Cat-Cow for the mobility it brings my backbone.

Finest Yoga Poses for Runners: Flexibility
Cat–Cow
Downward-Facing Dog Pose
Bound Angle Pose 
Pigeon Pose
Flamingo Pose

3. And Then Got here the Steadiness Advantages

I’ve all the time struggled with balancing on a single leg. Once I began working towards yoga, I couldn’t maintain Tree Pose for 2 seconds. Now I can’t solely linger in Tree, however I’ve been in a position to progress to poses like single-leg Chair Pose.

These kinds of balancing yoga poses are particularly useful for runners, walkers, and hikers as they strengthen the small stabilizing muscular tissues in your ankles and hips, which is essential for path operating and optimizing your stability on uneven terrain.

Finest Yoga Poses for Runners: Steadiness

Tree Pose
Single-Leg Chair Pose for Steadiness

4. Yoga Can Strengthen in Stunning Methods

I used to be not ready for yoga poses to have the ability to strengthen some underutilized muscular tissues in addition to they do. Though I flip to yoga as a complement to my weight coaching, relatively than an alternative to it, it’s actually handy to have the ability to apply the poses anyplace, with out the necessity to discover a gymnasium or weights.

Finest Yoga Poses for Runners: Strengthening Glutes, Quads, and Hamstrings

Chair Pose
Squat
Bridge Pose
Warrior I, II, and III Poses

Finest Yoga Poses for Runners: Strengthen the Higher Physique

Dolphin Pose
Plank
Chaturanga (Low Push-Up)

I discovered yoga to be so instrumental in how I method operating that I pursued instructor coaching and have become an teacher. Nowadays, I advocate even more durable for my shoppers to include it into their routine. I solely must attempt to persuade them till they begin to really feel the outcomes.

RELATED: 8 Essential Stretches That Every Athletes Needs to Do, According to a Personal Trainer

About Our Contributor
Amber Sayer is a health, diet, and wellness author and editor. She holds a grasp’s diploma in train science and a grasp’s diploma in prosthetics and orthotics. She is a NCSA-certified private coach, UESCA-certified operating coach, triathlon coach, and endurance diet coach.