Thanks to Jill for sharing some yoga tips today! I need these reminders, as yoga is one practice that is consistently difficult to fit into my weekly routine. Check out the additional links at the bottom for other helpful tips!
The Benefits of Yoga
Are you curious about a Downward Dog or Warrior Pose? Maybe you want to improve performance for your favorite sport or find a way to unwind at the end of the day. Have you considered yoga? It might be the perfect addition to your health and fitness routine.
I have experienced the benefits of yoga by consistently adding yoga several times a week to my workout schedule over the past 6 months. Initially, I started yoga to improve running form and performance. Now, yoga is a favorite workout not only for the benefits but as a way to relax and unwind at the end of the day.
Five Benefits of Yoga
- Increased flexibility. Yoga stretches not only your muscles but all of the soft tissues of your body. That includes ligaments, tendons, and the fascia sheath that surrounds your muscles.
- Improved fitness. With regular practice, yoga can improve balance, range of motion and strength.
- Benefits breathing. Because of the deep, mindful breathing that yoga involves, lung capacity often improves. This in turn can improve sports performance and endurance.
- Less stress and more calm. With its quiet, precise movements, yoga draws your focus away from your busy, chaotic day and toward calm as you move your body through poses that require balance and concentration.
- Better sleep. Regular practice of yoga can help people relax making it easier to turn off at the end of the day.
For more on yoga and how I found a way to add it to my workout schedule, as well as my favorite and most challenging poses, check out Hit the Mat To Experience the Benefits of Yoga.
I’m a wife, mom of 2, full-time psychologist, Swiftwick, FitFluential, Fit Approach and Girl Gone Sporty Ambassador that is passionate about running, plant-based nutrition, fitness and an overall healthy lifestyle. I believe living a healthy life is not about perfection. It’s about commitment, effort and progress! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at jillconyers@gmail.com
You can also find Jill at:
Blog: Fitness, Health and Happiness
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Facebook Page: Fitness, Health and Happiness
Thanks, Jill!
Here are a few other great links on running and yoga that I’ve found helpful:
Angela’s 10 Favorite Yoga Poses for Runners and some great Yoga Hip Openers
The Yoga Running Connection from Run to the Finish
Yoga Home Practice 101 from Clea
Have you incorporated yoga into your routine?
i need these too! thank you Jill. Yoga saved me in my running!
lindsay recently posted..Words of Wisdom Wednesday
Thanks Lindsay. For the sake of running (and other things) I wish I would have started yoga sooner.
Jill @ Fitness, Health and Happiness recently posted..Why I’m Running 13 in 2013
It took me awhile to like yoga. I still don’t do it often enough but it is so good when I do!
Coco recently posted..Three Things Thursday (The Trader Joe’s Edition)
Coco I was the same way. Relaxing doesn’t come naturally to me so I never thought I was relaxed enough to benefit from yoga. Ironically, I stuck with the yoga and it taught me how to relax
Jill @ Fitness, Health and Happiness recently posted..Why I’m Running 13 in 2013
Great tips Jill! Yoga is so much more than stretching. There’s no need for anyone to be intimidated because they aren’t bendy enough. Every pose can be modified. Try it and you’ll reap the benefits! It’s no secret I’m a huge fan.
BTW – thanks for the link love!
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama recently posted..My 5 Favorite Treadmill Workouts
Thanks Angela. If you stick with it the bendy comes
Jill @ Fitness, Health and Happiness recently posted..Why I’m Running 13 in 2013
such great tips and SO SO SO TRUE for me too.
Miz recently posted..Our GRATITUDE JAR commitment.
All so true! I really do love yoga and feel like it is a benefit to running. Somehow, however, I have fallen out of the habit and have yet to get back to it!
misszippy recently posted..Boys will be boys
Great tips! I have been doing Yoga of Runners on Tuesdays and just absolutely love it!
Nicole@RunningWhileMommy recently posted..What’s In Your Gym Bag?
I took my first yoga class when I was 19 and have been incorporating it ever since. I find I run most injury free when I am doing yoga regularly.
Marcia recently posted..Bloggyversary Giveaway
When I am practicing yoga I can see the benefits that Jill mentions happening almost immediately. Just about anyone can benefit!
Lisa @ RunWiki recently posted..Kyle’s Krusade Virtual 5K, 10K and Half Marathon
I go to yoga twice a week. It definitely helps during those looooong Saturday morning runs.
Natalie T. recently posted..It only took 10 days…
Ivebeen working on stretching more, it makes. HUGE difference!
Kat recently posted..Piglet Kat
I always include a yoga leg-up-the-wall pose after my runs. I’ve always read such good things from that yoga pose for various reasons and the leg drain always feels so good!
Christina recently posted..Midweek marathon training update and Korean Tacos
Those are all great benefits. I have been stretching a lot more, which has helped. I will probably be joining a gym with fitness classes in the coming months so hopefully I will be able to take up some yoga classes.
Tasha @ Healthy Diva recently posted..What was I thinking?! Holding myself accountable
Yoga has been one of my favorite additions to my running and working out! I love how it slows me down, has made me more flexible and stronger!
Michelle @ Eat Move Balance recently posted..KISS: Maple Mustard Salmon with Rosemary Butternut Squash
I really need to add yoga to my workouts! Thanks for sharing! I need these
M. Love recently posted..Grace and Disney Marathon
Great post! I am an avid runner and just started added yoga to my fitness routine to help increase flexibility. We get so tight as runners. I am excited to stick with it and see some improvements. Thanks for this post!
Ugh, I really need to get into a habit. I do the downward facing dog and pigeon pose after almost all runs. I’m a big fan of stretching daily.
Heather (Where’s the Beach) recently posted..Work it Out Wednesday – Tabata Legs
[...] 5 Benefits of Yoga for Runners (mommyrunfast.com) [...]
I know I need to stretch more and want to try yoga! May have to see about taking a class soon. Thanks for sharing. I would imagine it would help in avoiding some injuries by being more in tune with how my body feels.
deana recently posted..Everyone has the Runs but Me
I try to fit yoga into my week at least once, but aim for two times a week. It has been instrumental in building ankle strength after a sprain and definitely helps those hip flexors.
Jacki recently posted..The Science Behind Willpower
So true. Yoga is a wonderful companion to running — and so often I forget! I love yoga, but fall off the bandwagon from time to time. Thankfully I got in 30 minutes yesterday. I’m sore, but in a good way!
Beth (@RunTraveler) recently posted..Daily dose of awesome
Great article! I really *should* add Yoga to my routine, even if it is a few poses before bed or done in a playful manner with the kids as I could use the help with my flexibility which I’m sure will also help to prevent injuries.
Janice – Fitness Cheerleader recently posted..Your Healthiest Year Ever, Day 10: Drink More Water
Yay for yoga! Great post. You know you don’t have to convince me. Definitely you should hit some yoga after Houston, but be careful of those hamstrings!
And good luck at the marathon! I can’t wait to hear how it goes.
Clea recently posted..That’s $6.50 a mile…
A good reminder : ) Hope you’re able to do some yoga this week to help with the emotional ups and downs of tapering!!!
Michelle recently posted..2.5 Weeks Down, 13.5 Weeks To Go
Great post, I know I need to be better about yoga which is why I am taking on the 30 day challenge. I hope once I get in the habit it will stick!
Jen recently posted..Running Multiple Races
Since I broke my foot, I haven’t been doing very much yoga since with the boot on, my legs are uneven so it makes it feel wrong. I have been doing some pilates and it does help alignment, but it isn’t the same. I miss my yoga practice and I definitely think it improves all aspects of fitness performance!
Rachel B @ Busy Mama Fitness recently posted..Body Beast Journal: Back and Bi (AKA Super Mom Workout)
I need to do yoga. I do some of the basic moves in my stretching routine but I think I need more!
Jody – Fit at 55 recently posted..The Traveling Jeans & the Scale; Weight Loss Maintenance
I like the Flexible Warrior series. She’s got workouts that can be done 1st thing in the morning (even if your muscles are cold), as well as before bed (not too demanding, perfect for relaxation). I used the latter this week, and the next morning was the first time I woke up without my lower back being stiff.
Axel recently posted..Review: Crossfit/Crossfit Kids at SquareOne Crossfit
Thanks for those tips- I’ll have to check out that series!
Laura recently posted..Houston Marathon Recap
So interesting to read! I know that I always felt better when I was practicing yoga, but I haven’t done it in forever.
[...] the runners looking for a bit of a stretch over on Laura’s blog: 5 Benefits of Yoga for Runners via Jill from Fitness, Health and [...]
[...] 5 Benefits of Yoga for Runners (mommyrunfast.com) [...]
Yes, the one thing that really helped me? The whole breath/breathing thing. Seriously. When I find myself running and getting all breathy and anxious, I do some yoga breathing and bring it back to my center. And I run on! I love my yoga.
Jenna recently posted..#WIWSunday: What I Wore Sunday, January 13, 2013
I saw this on a linkup on a local blogger’s blog and I loved this article. The weather here in Cleveland, OH was awful for the first few weeks of the year and it was impossible to run outside. I had a really bad back injury too that I suffered due to poor posture while driving back from DC over the holidays. My wife suggested that we break out some yoga DVDs that she got for Christmas. I have really enjoyed using them–they helped speed along my recovery and they have helped stretch out my muscles for running! I plan to keep up the practice on my “rest days” during half-marathon training.
Joe @ The Frolicking Fells recently posted..New Year’s Resolutions!
Thanks for the comment, Joe! That’s awesome that you saw so many benefits of yoga so quickly. It’s hard for me to slow down long enough to incorporate yoga- I like to go, go, go… but I always feel good when I do!
Laura recently posted..Houston Marathon Recap
[...] 5 Benefits of Yoga for Runners (mommyrunfast.com) [...]
[...] Experience the Benefits of Yoga. I'm a wife, mom of 2, full-time … … More here: 5 Benefits of Yoga for Runners | ← Yoga Poses for Beginners – Over 100 Poses & Meditations [...]
I work for a company selling yoga mats, however I have only just got into yoga myself! I’ve been doing it for three weeks now and already I feel much more supple, and less stressed! great post, thanks for sharing!
[...] 5 Benefits of Yoga for Runners (mommyrunfast.com) [...]
Sometimes I do not understand myself. For the last week or so I have felt terrible. I work 12-14 hours a day in a very stressful busienss and never take any time for me- I spend all day serving others. This evening, I went and did a 1 hr and 15 min yoga practice. I feel great now! All kinds of energy, dullness and listlessness is gone… Somehow I have to make time for this daily! This is a great article and so many of the benefits can be seen by doing just one practice.
my health
Thanks for sharing, Melissa. I’m so glad you felt better after the yoga practice… a little quiet time, using the body, and breathing deeply can go a long way!
Laura recently posted..6 Ways to Support Peak Performance