Free Yoga Class (aka the yin to my yang)

Simply said yoga is the yin to my yang.

To run is to “go quickly”.  To practice yoga is to “be where you are”.

Even if my legs aren’t always going at a speedy pace you better bet my mind is.  If you could clock the pace of my racing mind during a run, no doubt it would leave my legs in the dust.

My lack of flexibility and racing mind are the source of my biggest challenges during my yoga practice.  Running for many years = tight muscles.  Classes here in the city seem to be composed of dancers and other athletes where having great flexibility is a must for their sport.  In fact, I’ve embarrassed myself laughing out loud in a Level 1 class from being asked to do the impossible (seriously, a side crow and a flying lotus in a level 1 class?). I can’t wait to live somewhere where the yogi’s are little less Elastigirl and a little more… like me.

Now that I’m training for a marathon (I’ll post about that soon), I have to practice yoga.  I strongly believe that yoga is the only way I’ll stay injury free while marathon training.  Yesterday was my long run, making today my yoga day.  I did this 60 minute yoga for runners podcast.  Its available at YogaDownloads.com.  Truly a bargain at $5.95!  It was just as good as going to my neighborhood studio.  Maybe even better as I can do this same practice as many times as I want!  Its even great for beginners as it also comes with a download-able pose guide.  Seriously, it can’t be beat!

Looking for an even better bargain?   The 20 minute version is available on itunes for free! The inspiration for today’s purchase was Episode #26: Yoga for Runners.  

Today’s question: What do you do to stay injury free when training for a race?