Another month, another monthly workout round up! This month we are bringing you 6 yoga and stretching workouts for runners. Last month we offered dynamic stretches to do before your run – so it only makes sense that we know give you some post-run stretches.
I have a confession to make. While I am diligent about my dynamic stretches, core work, strength training, diet, and all of those things that directly impact running… I neglect yoga and stretching – not because I don’t see the value in it, but because I just get lazy about it. The only bits of stretching I get are those from Pilates and from the 1-3 times per week I utilize my foam roller.
Somewhere in the many photos from the Rise.Run.Retreat, there’s even a picture of everyone doing savasana – and I am as stiff as a board. I think I’ve said multiple times over the past year that I should do yoga…but I can count on one hand how many times I have actually done it.
We all have our areas where we can stand to improve – and stretching is mine. After all, post run stretching offers numerous benefits, including better flexibility and mobility, decreased risk of injury, and less soreness after hard runs.
That all said, these few stretches are the ones I find most effective – and only take a few minutes of your time. Throughout the week, these are few stretches I do include – whether in my Pilates routine or quickly after a run.
Spine Stretch Forward: I love this stretch for my tight hamstrings! Sit on the floor with your feet flexed and your legs extended in front of you, hip width or slighly wider apart (if you are using a mat, align your feet with the outside edges of the mat). Sit up straight and extend your arms directly out in front of you. Inhale and fold forward toward the floor, sliding your hands out along the floor. Exhale and continue to lengthen your spine forward and reach toward your toes. Hold for an inhale and exhale, and then on the next inhale slowly sit back up. Repeat for 3-5 stretches. (See a video demo here.)
Standing Forward Fold: Stand up straight with your feet slightly apart. Bend at your hips and reach for your toes. You can rest your hands on the ground or let them hang down if you cannot touch your toes.
Child’s Pose: Come into a kneeling position with your butt on your feet. Keep your toes together and open your knees to hip width apart. Lean forward and rest your body on your thighs and your forehead on the floor. You can either reach your arms out in front of you or rest them by your sides. Spend at least 5 deep breaths in this pose.
Legs Up Against the Wall: I include this stretch after my long runs each week and instruct my athletes to do the same. Lie on the floor, with your butt near the edge of a wall, and prop your legs straight up against the wall. Lie there for 5-10 minutes.
Thankfully, with these monthly workout round ups you get six workouts, and I promise you that these ladies know their stretching and yoga – so here’s five more yoga and stretching routines for runners! (I should try these as well!).
Nellie from Brooklyn Active Mama:
Sarah from Run Far Girl (be sure to check out her video!)
Angela from Happy Fit Mama:
[Tweet “Stretch it out with 6 #yoga #workouts for #runners @runfargirl @happyfitmama @vitatrain4life @BklynActiveMama @CarlyPizzani @thisrunrecipes “]
You can find the past monthly workout round ups here:
5 Dynamic Stretches for Runners
6 Core Workouts for Runners
6 Speed Workouts for Runners
6 Hill Workouts for Runners
6 Injury Prevent Workouts for Runners
6 Upper Body Workouts for Runners
6 Two a Day Workouts for Runners
6 Indoor Workouts for Runners
What are your favorite yoga or stretching poses?
What part of training do you skimp on?
8 Responses
I like doing legs up the wall and childs pose- I feel like they help me to reset after a run! Otherwise I mostly focus on foam rolling to loosen up my muscles.
In all honesty I’m not the greatest post run stretcher. I’ll probably do a couple of yoga poses and call it. But I do go to yoga 3-4 x week and have a nightly stretching/foam roller routine. Whenever and whatever you can get in is better than nothing!
Loving your honesty here because even though you’re a super human runner – you are human 🙂 Stretching is super boring and usually we don’t really have time to do it after our long runs…or even short ones, which is why I do it at night. It all helps.
And I love the wide angle forward fold and legs up the wall! So good 🙂
SO often people hear yoga and balk. But just a few poses–ones that don’t even feel like yoga! Can be so beneficial! And they are like an excuse: why are your legs up the wall like that? I’m just doing yoga!
The legs up the wall stretch is the best! Sometimes I can almost feel the blood rejuvenating when I do that one. Downward dog is also good for tight hamstrings. I do a class called BodyFlow which is yoga and pilates and it’s a great cross training workout.
As far as skimping on training, I am honestly pretty good on the training front but my nutrition could use some work. I do eat a lot of junk…
You know I love yoga–it is a huge part of my regimen. I do at least 1 class per week. But I’ve been neglecting stretching and foam rolling lately, and as I am upping my miles, this series was a good reminder that I need to get back at it!
Yup, I’ve been doing my stretching lately too! I sneak some poses in between sets of pushups. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m getting (way) older or what, but I need to stretch WAY more than I ever have. I use to not be able to touch my toes, and now I can’t even bend over lol. I’m working on it. 😉
Child’s poses, legs up the wall and pigeon pose are my favourite! A good hip opener and quad stretch hurt-so-good too.