Yoga is popularly identified with muscle relaxation, slow movements, deep breathing. While running is, well, not any of those. What is not known to most people is that integrating these two exercise forms can bring a balance to our bodies.
Both of these exercises carry similar key characteristics, although these would be identified only by a practitioner of their integration.
Look at the key elements of running and Yoga. Both forms of exercise have:
-Flexibility
-Breathing techniques
-Discipline
-Concentration
-Practice
Yoga does more than enhancing the runner's performance. It adds an important dimension to the athletes' training programs. Runners develop more accuracy and precision from yoga's beneficial effect of harmonizing the body. These benefits aid them immensely, keeping the damaging effects of running from their bodies.
The benefits to a runner's body from yoga have been proven. For instance, a one-mile run is equated to one foot striking the ground one thousand times. In addition, the hips and lower limbs get to absorb the runner's weight three to four times more while running. This tendency consequently brings on stiffness and pain and injury, a condition most runners usually go through.
However, these damaging effects to the body are not usual consequences to running. Health experts say that these injurious reactions occur because heavy running puts the body out of balance. Which will be prevented if runners incorporate Yoga into their training because Yoga corrects the body posture which then will provide balance to the body.
Research has shown that long-term intense running develops a tightening and reduction of the athletes' muscles. That is a natural consequence to the muscles applied to the same moves day in and day out. In time, this repetitive exertion of the same muscles on the same actions lead to pain and even injury. The rest of the body reacts and tries to compensate for the imbalance by stressing on the other joints and muscles.
An important consideration for everyone is the knowledge of the linkage and correlation of all the systems of the body. An unusual action of some parts results in pain or injury to other parts. For example, shin splints, a common running injury, is the effect of wrong allocation of weight on the legs while running.
In this aspect, Yoga comes in for runners' assistance. Yoga moves focus on muscle stretching and relaxation which decreases the occurrence of these injuries or pains.
Presently a program is being popularized for runners which integrates Yoga to the usual runners' training. This new training now involves not just strengthening and massaging the muscles used in running but also relaxation and meditation. 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. Simultaneously, the back, core and arm muscles are strengthened, thus putting right the postural misalignment and body imbalance. Thus, optimal running performance is developed.
Both of these exercises carry similar key characteristics, although these would be identified only by a practitioner of their integration.
Look at the key elements of running and Yoga. Both forms of exercise have:
-Flexibility
-Breathing techniques
-Discipline
-Concentration
-Practice
Yoga does more than enhancing the runner's performance. It adds an important dimension to the athletes' training programs. Runners develop more accuracy and precision from yoga's beneficial effect of harmonizing the body. These benefits aid them immensely, keeping the damaging effects of running from their bodies.
The benefits to a runner's body from yoga have been proven. For instance, a one-mile run is equated to one foot striking the ground one thousand times. In addition, the hips and lower limbs get to absorb the runner's weight three to four times more while running. This tendency consequently brings on stiffness and pain and injury, a condition most runners usually go through.
However, these damaging effects to the body are not usual consequences to running. Health experts say that these injurious reactions occur because heavy running puts the body out of balance. Which will be prevented if runners incorporate Yoga into their training because Yoga corrects the body posture which then will provide balance to the body.
Research has shown that long-term intense running develops a tightening and reduction of the athletes' muscles. That is a natural consequence to the muscles applied to the same moves day in and day out. In time, this repetitive exertion of the same muscles on the same actions lead to pain and even injury. The rest of the body reacts and tries to compensate for the imbalance by stressing on the other joints and muscles.
An important consideration for everyone is the knowledge of the linkage and correlation of all the systems of the body. An unusual action of some parts results in pain or injury to other parts. For example, shin splints, a common running injury, is the effect of wrong allocation of weight on the legs while running.
In this aspect, Yoga comes in for runners' assistance. Yoga moves focus on muscle stretching and relaxation which decreases the occurrence of these injuries or pains.
Presently a program is being popularized for runners which integrates Yoga to the usual runners' training. This new training now involves not just strengthening and massaging the muscles used in running but also relaxation and meditation. 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. Simultaneously, the back, core and arm muscles are strengthened, thus putting right the postural misalignment and body imbalance. Thus, optimal running performance is developed.
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