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.
Hi, I’m Lindsay! Gluten Free Nutrition Specialist, food photographer and author of 
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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!
me too!
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.
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 🙂
that’s me too! i need the accountability though. I do love it! time to invest in it more, yes?
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.
I COULD LIVE IN PIGEON POSE.
heaven.
when i was running, pigeon pose was a must because my hips were SO TIGHT!
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!
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.
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
I really need more yoga in my life! Pigeon pose and I have a love/ hate relationship!
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.
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.
i’m so glad to hear from you again!!! and yes, i know pilates would win your battle. At least it similar, right?
Katie is the best!! Love this reminder to keep up with yoga when training. Hope you’re enjoying NYC, Lindsay!
does that post look familiar? hehe
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.
haha i know the feeling.
Pigeon and forward bends are my favorite post-run!
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!
and now you can wear you’re cute leggings when you do yoga! hehe
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!
they always have holiday specials at studios, maybe you could go then?
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?
move to austin! we can e limber buddies!
Yay! Love this post- beautiful pics.
i had a feeling you’d approve! xxoo
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 🙂
oh i love warrior pose too!
I love the Awkward Pose. I don’t find it awkward at all. I’m not sure what that says about me 😉
me too!!!!
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. 🙂
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.
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
let me know when you do!
I LOVE pigeon pose! It is SO relaxing and REALLY helps my often times very sore hips :(.
you and me both girl!
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!
no way! your dad is awesome. Way to be proactive dad!!
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!
i agree! we just need to focus on that, right?
Oh my gosh, this is everything I need right now. Thank you!
you and me both Kelly!
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!).
i do much better when i am in a studio or class. I guess it’s the accountability, ya know?
this just makes me want to go do some yoga right now! we love it, just wish we could make ourselves do it more.
i know. we need more time! ahhh
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
oh heck ya! i love me some cobra. hehe. I feel that same stress relief in childs pose too!
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!
You and me both!!
yes pigeon pose!!! I do it every single day!!
ditto! hurts so good!
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.