Lots of runners will identify with the quandary of how to react when a friend says they spotted you out 'jogging'. Do you respond positively and calmly because you know it was an easy day. Or do you react defensively because, 'I only looked like I was jogging?' Or maybe you quietly correct them because you were actually 'yogging'?
To quote Ron Burgundy, "Veronica and I are trying this new fad called uh, jogging. I believe it's jogging or yogging. It might be a soft j. I'm not sure but apparently you just run for an extended period of time. It's supposed to be wild." Wild.
The urban dictionary has a few different definitions for yogging but surely it's also the combination of yoga and running? Not sure what Ron Burgundy would have to say about that...
Monday, February 28, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Hip Openers Anonymous
Most runners will know and admit they have tight hips - very tight hips!
Training for the London Marathon right now isn't helping the elasticity of my hips, but luckily yoga is and when I stretch out in a hip opening asana like Pigeon Pose and then move into the aptly named Bird of Paradise the tension melts away.
I did suddenly realise that a slight addiction to hip openers could be developing, which is surely OK for a runner? To counter act the many miles of running, I need hip openers most of all to helping to correct imbalances, don't I? But oh to neglect the hamstrings...
I have to face up to the facts: I am a runner, and I love hip openers.
Training for the London Marathon right now isn't helping the elasticity of my hips, but luckily yoga is and when I stretch out in a hip opening asana like Pigeon Pose and then move into the aptly named Bird of Paradise the tension melts away.
I did suddenly realise that a slight addiction to hip openers could be developing, which is surely OK for a runner? To counter act the many miles of running, I need hip openers most of all to helping to correct imbalances, don't I? But oh to neglect the hamstrings...
I have to face up to the facts: I am a runner, and I love hip openers.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Stretching or Yoga?
New evidence is in the public domain that stretching before running doesn't make a huge amount of difference to the risk of injury!
Dr Daniel Pereles, from George Washington University found that stretching did not have any effect on injury rates among runners. The factors that did seem to influence whether the runners hurt themselves were body max, previous injury history and also whether or not a runner changed their routine, from not-stretching to a stretching! The risk was greater for stretchers who were told not to stretch, increasing the risk of injury by 40%, while those who switched from not stretching to stretching increased their risk by 22%.
The take home advice of - if it works don't try to fix it, is a strong message. Dr. Pereles stated: "I can't tell anyone there is conclusive evidence that stretching makes a difference in injuries or performance."
Last week I tested non-scientifically whether or not yoga made a difference to my own running, and if it was better to practice yoga before or after a run. By the end of the week the deep yoga tool-bag unveiled not only stretches and asanas to help me prepare and/ or recover from a run, but it also helped me plan for a particular type of run. Hill session coming up - try to correct your posture, adjust your breathing = yoga. Expecting to feeling tired at the end of a long run - remember to lengthen the spine, lift up out of the hips and relax the shoulders = yoga.
If Dr. Pereles tested whether yoga made any difference to runner's injury rates I wonder what the findings would be? What do you think?
Dr Daniel Pereles, from George Washington University found that stretching did not have any effect on injury rates among runners. The factors that did seem to influence whether the runners hurt themselves were body max, previous injury history and also whether or not a runner changed their routine, from not-stretching to a stretching! The risk was greater for stretchers who were told not to stretch, increasing the risk of injury by 40%, while those who switched from not stretching to stretching increased their risk by 22%.
The take home advice of - if it works don't try to fix it, is a strong message. Dr. Pereles stated: "I can't tell anyone there is conclusive evidence that stretching makes a difference in injuries or performance."
Last week I tested non-scientifically whether or not yoga made a difference to my own running, and if it was better to practice yoga before or after a run. By the end of the week the deep yoga tool-bag unveiled not only stretches and asanas to help me prepare and/ or recover from a run, but it also helped me plan for a particular type of run. Hill session coming up - try to correct your posture, adjust your breathing = yoga. Expecting to feeling tired at the end of a long run - remember to lengthen the spine, lift up out of the hips and relax the shoulders = yoga.
If Dr. Pereles tested whether yoga made any difference to runner's injury rates I wonder what the findings would be? What do you think?
Monday, February 14, 2011
Run then Yoga or Yoga then Run?
Ideally I'm sure almost everyone would agree that yoga-run-yoga would be the most beneficial for your body, but more often than not run-yoga is what realistically happens.
A few weekends ago in Santa Fe I met up with a friend Cameron for a trail run around La Tierra Torture! Luckily it was not too torturous, and we managed a fine run, with 360 degree views of the surrounding area - more renown for it's annual mountain bike race.
After the run I decided to check out the local yoga scene and so looked up Yoga Source and went along to a class that was perfectly timed to start about 45mins after the run - time enough for a quick shower, banana, granola and water. We started out with a Reclining Bound Angle Pose, which on a Sunday afternoon, post long-run - was lush! Super Supta Baddga Konasana :) The rest of the class was needless to say pretty sublime, and we ended with the extremely relaxing Legs Up The Wall Pose - Viparita Karani. All great yoga, post-run.
In the middle of this week, I tried a run, post-yoga. At first I thought maybe I would feel tired or abit wobbly, but not at all - it was great too! I felt very fluid and relaxed, and 45mins turned into an easy hour. I was tuned into my body and breathing and could have kept running for hours :)
This week I'm going to keep switching it up to see how things go.
Yoga, run, yoga, eat, sleep, yoga, run, yoga, work, play, yoga, run, yoga, eat, sleep, yoga, work, run, yoga, play, yoga....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)