What Yoga Will Do For Runners

Yoga is popularly identified with muscle relaxation, slow movements, deep breathing. While running is, well, not any of those. Unknown to many is the harmony in the body created by the combination of these two exercise forms.

These two forms have the same important elements, which aren't that obvious except to one who has done both.

Just take note of the similarities between Running and Yoga. Both forms of exercise have:

-Flexibility

-Breathing techniques

-Discipline

-Concentration

-Practice

Yoga does more than enhancing the runner's performance. It ushers in a crucial angle to the athletes' training routines. From among Yoga's numerous benefits to the body, runners gain improved accuracy and precision. These benefits aid them immensely, keeping the damaging effects of running from their bodies.

There have been several reports of the gains to a runner's body from Yoga practice. Running one mile, according to health experts, is tantamount to one of your feet hitting the ground a thousand times. Furthermore, three to four times the runners' weight gets absorbed by the hips and lower limbs. This tendency consequently brings on stiffness and pain and injury, a condition most runners usually go through.

But these harmful experiences in the runner's body are not automatic outcomes of running. Health experts say that these injurious reactions occur because heavy running puts the body out of balance. A case that is easily preventable by performing an integration of Yoga into typical runners' programs because Yoga's usual corrective effect on the body's posture will bring back the balance.

Studies reveal that as runners' training is mostly spent on just running, this leads to a constriction and shortening of their muscles. This is because of the muscles being used only on the same routines daily. In time, this repetitive exertion of the same muscles on the same actions lead to pain and even injury. To this development, the whole body then reacts by compensating for the upset balance by putting on pressure on the rest of the muscles and joints.

It must be remembered that all the systems in the body are interrelated. An unusual action of some parts results in pain or injury to other parts. Shin splints, a usual injury experienced by runners, for instance, results from the improper distribution of weight on the legs during the running activity.

This is where Yoga comes in to provide its benefits to runners. The concentration of Yoga postures on muscle extensions and relaxation gradually diminishes further incidence of pain or injury.

Presently a program is being popularized for runners which integrates Yoga to the usual runners' training. The new series entails relaxing and strengthening the muscles applied to running and meditation and relaxation as well. This trend transforms the pace of runners' training from never-ending pounding of their muscles to breathing exercises, muscle stretching and loosening and stress-relieving exercises and moves.

The program is designed to stretch the hamstrings and calf muscles to avoid soreness and injuries caused by running. At the same time, it toughens the back, core and arm muscles and helps in correcting postural mis-alignments. Thus, optimal running performance is developed.

Lindaa Adams adores all things that have to do with health.

One of the most beneficial health websites Lindaa has found is yogawithkatrina.com/yoga-kamloops Health Kamloops, which is a extraordinary combination of yoga and health.

You can watch a Free Video of the hubpages.com/hub/Balancing-Fitness-and-Yoga-with-my-New-Kamloops-Boot-Camp Kamloops Fitness Yoga Boot Camp for a stellar exercise session at any time.