We’re gonna talk about it today —> Yoga! I love yoga. But you know what? I didn’t always love it. I learned to appreciate the moves for what they did for my body, my mind, my wellness. And I love how it helped my running!
My cheesy race pic for your viewing pleasure.
Today Katie is sharing her favorite yoga moves and running. Enjoy, and take notes, k?
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Hi everyone, my name is Katie! I’m a yogi, runner, cyclist, strength trainer, healthy chef, and dog lover, who lives life to the fullest! I am the owner of She Rocks Fitness, which specializes in personal training, boot camps, and on-line training. Whether you are a New Mom, a Bride to Be, the woman who wants to train for her first 5k, or loose those annoying 10 lbs, I will help you achieve these goals. She Rocks Fitness is about training hard, eating well, but still being able to enjoy life and have fun! You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and I can be reached by e-mail at: [email protected].
I am not sure if many of you know me, but yoga and running are my true passions. I try to practice yoga 2-3 times a week and run 3 times a week. Yoga has 100% helped me with my running, but running doesn’t always help with my yoga. HA! Let’s just say that standing splits and compass pose won’t be happening in this lifetime. I’m okay with this, because I’m just thankful for the other ways that yoga has helped my flexibility and strength, especially with my core, hamstrings and hips. Here are my 3 favorite poses that I have found very beneficial to improve my running. Just like everything else in life, what may work for me, may not work for you, so try these out or take a yoga class to figure out what feels best for you. I also like how there are different variations for each of these poses. They can be more restorative or challenging, it just depends on how YOUR body is feeling. Feel free to ask me any questions, I love hearing from you.
Forward Bends:
You can do forward bends either seated or standing and you will receive very similar benefits. These poses focus on the: brain, liver, kidneys, hamstrings, calves, hips, groins, knees, and spine. They strengthen and stretch the legs and spine; tone the core; and relive backache. I love both options, because they feel absolutely heavenly on my hamstrings. They also force me to relax and LET GO, which is so hard for many of us these days.
Extended Triangle Pose
I look forward to this pose in every class that I take. It feels so good on my hips and hamstrings. I feel a sense of comfort in this pose and could stay in it for several minutes. It allows me to open my heart, breathe deeper into the pose, and release any tensions that running or life may have caused that week. This pose focuses on the thighs, hips, hamstrings, ankles, groin, chest, shoulders, spine, and calves. It improves digestion, relieves stress and backache, and symptoms of menopause. You cannot go wrong with this pose!
Pigeon Pose
A challenging pose, but also one that is strong and beautiful! With many variations depending on your level, this pose focuses on the thighs, knees, core, hips, groin, chest, and shoulders. What I love about this pose is that it opens the heart and shoulders. It stretches the thighs, groins, psoas, core, chest, shoulders, and neck.
What is your favorite yoga pose? What pose makes you feel strong? What pose makes you feel pure bliss?
Katie
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Thanks Katie!
p.s.
She’s a real life blend. <3 her.
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More
Pigeon & Triangle are two of my FAVORITES but especially Triangle. I remember a yoga instructor say something during a class YEARS ago about how if you truly wish for something and you think about it during triangle pose, it’s more likely to come. Maybe I misunderstood her but every time I get in triangle pose, I open my heart and think about what I’m truly looking for or needing in that moment.
Amanda @runtothefinish
yes pigeon pose!!! I do it every single day!!
LCCotter
ditto! hurts so good!
Allison @ Life's a Bowl
I fell off the yoga bandwagon in the past few months since we cancelled our gym membership, but I really should start practicing at home. Stretching always feels so good but I hardly ever do it!
Lindsay
You and me both!!
Laura @losingrace
Thank you for sharing these, I have been trying to incorporate more yoga/pilates in my routines because I know it will help me physically and mentally with my training.
One of my favorite poses is Cobra, so easy but really helps me relax. same with Child pose, very basic but helps reduce stress for me
LCCotter
oh heck ya! i love me some cobra. hehe. I feel that same stress relief in childs pose too!
purelytwins
this just makes me want to go do some yoga right now! we love it, just wish we could make ourselves do it more.
LCCotter
i know. we need more time! ahhh
Kim
I’m awful about doing Yoga and when I do, my poses are never that nice looking. I’m always amazed at how hard it really is to hold some of those poses – one day I will get better at it (I hope!).
LCCotter
i do much better when i am in a studio or class. I guess it’s the accountability, ya know?
Kelly @ Cupcake Kelly's
Oh my gosh, this is everything I need right now. Thank you!
LCCotter
you and me both Kelly!
Danica @ It's Progression
I honestly don’t love yoga when I’m doing it, but I love how I feel afterward. It majorly improves my running when I practice it on a regular basis, too!
LCCotter
i agree! we just need to focus on that, right?
Rachel
Thanks so much for sharing these moves – looks like I’ve been inadvertently doing the right stretches without realizing it! Although I don’t practice yoga (I’ve always wanted to), I can say from my father’s experience that it’s crucial to maintaining running fitness as you age. He has arthritis in his back and knees, and he took up yoga about a year ago to relieve the pain. It’s done wonders not just for his physical health, but his mental health as well! And he’s been able to start running again without pain. Amazing what simple movements and stretches of body can do for your entire being.
Thanks again!
LCCotter
no way! your dad is awesome. Way to be proactive dad!!
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl
I LOVE pigeon pose! It is SO relaxing and REALLY helps my often times very sore hips :(.
LCCotter
you and me both girl!
Jody - Fit at 55
I so want to do yoga but not at my regular gym & can’t afford the studios right now but I will get there one day! 🙂
Gratitude Monday, Breathing & Stuff.. http://truth2beingfit.com/2013/11/03/gratitude-monday-breathing–stuff.aspx
LCCotter
let me know when you do!
Heather @ Better With Veggies
Great post!! I can’t wait to make yoga part of my regular routine again, it’s so great at balancing things out and really getting you to focus on stretching.
Heather @ Better With Veggies
Half pigeon is my favorite yoga pose – it always takes me a moment to settle in and then really opens my hips. I could sleep that way. 🙂
Kierston @candyfit
I love the Awkward Pose. I don’t find it awkward at all. I’m not sure what that says about me 😉
LCCotter
me too!!!!
Lindsay @ Lindsay Weighs In
I love yoga, but never seem to make time for it for some reason! SO SILLY!!! I love the Tree Pose, for some reason that has always been my favorite. I also love the Warrior Poses, they make me feel strong and powerful 🙂 Great post, Katie! Now I want to go do some yoga 🙂
LCCotter
oh i love warrior pose too!
Alison
Yay! Love this post- beautiful pics.
LCCotter
i had a feeling you’d approve! xxoo
Bonnie
Great post, Katie! I love your approach to fitness and how you embrace so many forms of it – not just one thing. I need more yoga in my life. To be honest (don’t stone me…), I barely stretch! 🙁 I do with clients and I do briefly post-workout, but I know not enough. Any thoughts for where and how to get started? I think maybe I need a yoga buddy and to go outside the gym where I work at…any other thoughts to get me limbering up?
LCCotter
move to austin! we can e limber buddies!
Lauren
I love the pigeon and warrior poses because they really make me feel stretched and strong. I wish SO badly I could afford to take a professional yoga class because I always feel like I’m doing the yoga poses incorrectly, though. I don’t want to end up hurting myself lol!
LCCotter
they always have holiday specials at studios, maybe you could go then?
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen)
Incredible post Katie! I’m a firm believer in the benefit of yoga! Pigeon is, by far, my favorite pose! I’ve only been running for a year and a half now. I put yoga aside for a long time, but I’ve really gotten back into it ever since I started running because I really do feel like it’s the best way for me to focus on stretching and strengthening without stressing my body (specifically my legs). Great post ladies! Thank you for sharing this!
LCCotter
and now you can wear you’re cute leggings when you do yoga! hehe
Kat
Pigeon and forward bends are my favorite post-run!
Becki @ Fighting for Wellness
These are so helpful! My hamstrings are like rocks (not in a good way) these days, so I definitely need some good yoga poses to help with my flexibility.
LCCotter
haha i know the feeling.
Laura @ Mommy Run Fast
Katie is the best!! Love this reminder to keep up with yoga when training. Hope you’re enjoying NYC, Lindsay!
LCCotter
does that post look familiar? hehe
Lisa
Yay, I can read your blog again:)
Ohh, I need to step up my yoga game! I have to admit, yoga is not my favourite. Pilates would win with that battle – but I know how important it is to utilize some yoga moves into my routine every now and again! I think I’ll start with these ones. I’m the worst about stretching my body out.
LCCotter
i’m so glad to hear from you again!!! and yes, i know pilates would win your battle. At least it similar, right?
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table
I love Katie!!! So glad you’re sharing this today – it’s my last leg day pre-comp and I am terrible about stretching/yoga after a workout. I know it will make me feel better though.
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables
I really need more yoga in my life! Pigeon pose and I have a love/ hate relationship!
Jennifer F
I’m so freakin’ tight, all Yoga moves are hard for me. You probably saw my recent pigeon pose on instagram and had a good laugh! I definitely need to practice more
Holly @ EatGreatBEGreat
I used to do yoga fairly frequently, but then I stopped for some reason. I want to pick it up again and start doing it as part of my normal workout routine. My favorite pose is pigeon pose.
Abby @ Change of Pace
Wow- Katie’s pigeon pose looks beautiful!
I try to do yoga once a week and up that number in winter. I’m by no means good at it or flexible but it certainly helps! My faves are extended triangle and cow face pose!
Linz @ Itz Linz
when i was running, pigeon pose was a must because my hips were SO TIGHT!
Miz
I COULD LIVE IN PIGEON POSE.
heaven.
Ang @ Nutty for Life
Pigeon pose is one of my favorite hip openers. I like to refer to it as my “jam.” I’ve fallen in love with yoga over the past few months and don’t know what I would do without it! It keeps me sane during the busy week.
Cara's Healthy Cravings
I am a fan of yoga, but I never invest enough time into it. I guess I prefer taking classes as opposed to doing it on my own, and I am often too cheap to fork out the money for it 🙂
LCCotter
that’s me too! i need the accountability though. I do love it! time to invest in it more, yes?
Natalie
I love yoga and I agree it goes hand in hand with running. Practicing yoga twice a week has definitely improved my running.
I enjoy arm balances as well as any and all hip stretches.
Lucie@FitSwissChick
I just started AGAIN with Yoga after taking a 6 months break (I don’t even know why I took a break) and I am so addicted. I LOVE the way I feel after a Yoga Class! Also, it’s a great alternative to my running and weight lifting. My favorite pose is definitely pigeon pose or warrior 2!
lindsay
me too!