I used to be really good (especially while injured) at making sure to do at least 2-3 hours of yoga per week and after each run I would stretch for about 10 minutes, followed by foam rolling when I got home.
I have read in many different places about the importance of yoga for runners mentally (helping to calm your mind and mediatate during runs is AWESOME) and physically (balance, flexibility, range of motion and strength).
It has been hard to do yoga while in Cali because the gym I go to here only offers it twice a week at really weird times and I feel a little awkward in the living room getting my Jillian yoga melt-down DVD on with my Brother-In-Laws sitting on the couch……….
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I am trying to figure out what a good amount of Yoga/stretching is for Runners…….so, I wanted to ask YOU how often you do yoga? How often do you take time to stretch and work on your flexibility? Do you think that it is important to do yoga/stretch often?
43 comments
Katelyn @ Chef Katelyn
I did yoga TODAY!!!! It felt so so good and it was actually pretty killer on my upper body. I know right. Crazy. Anyyyyway you should probably do it likeee once or twice a week! That kept me good for my half marathon :)
Girl In The Pink
So weird, I just posted on yoga like an hour ago lol… I have been inspired by Eat, Live, Run to practice every day for 21 days… Typically I practice 2-3 times a week though!
I think yoga + stretching is SO important, both physically and mentally! It doesn’t have to be a 90 minute power yoga class, even just 10 minutes does wonders!
Lindsey
Not near enough, I would like to do it twice a week -one class and once a week at home with Ms. Michaels ;) But I usually only get home one done. And I know it is really important!
Tara
I do yoga twice a week for an hour each time. But I also do a little maybe 15 minute long stretching and yoga routine before I go to the gym at any time- which might be twice a week. than I do the same after the gym plus foam rolling. So I probably spend over three hours a week stretching/yoga-ing. But I am coming off a knee problem and rebuilding strength and I credit yoga with my recovery.
Hayley @ Hayley Daily
I’ve NEVER tried yoga. Crazy, as I’ve been really into fitness for about 6 years now. I’ve done a yoga-lates class before, though.
Corey @ learning patience
i just started Yoga at the end of last year – i never thought i would like it…but i was plesantly surprised – i loved it! Plus, being a runner – i was the opposite of flexible…until i started doing a bunch of yoga – now i am proud to say my flexibilty has greater increased! Since moving overseas i bought Jillian Michaels dvd and i do it in my condo… i highly reccommend yoga to everyone!
xoxo from Trinidad
Lauren @ What Lauren Likes
I need to do Yoga more! I try to do it once a week. Funny pic haha :)
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen
I was really diligent with yoga a few months ago. Now that I’m trying to focus on strength training + running it’s been really hard to fit it all in. Jillian’s Yoga melt down is my go-to too :) I think it’s easier for me to focus on it in the winter when I’m hibernating inside anyway and popping a DVD in is easy.
Jaci
i love yoga but usually don’t have the focus to get all the mental benefits (ADD x’s a million once i know i have to be calm and not think of anything). I regularly do Physique 57 which is a combination of ballet, yoga and pilates and it gets me stretched and strengthened while also helping my knees! Probably not as good for meditation though!
Grace
I need to do more yoga! For post run yoga I just googled it and found some poses that are really helpful!
Aditi
When I was training for my marathon I was really good about stretching and foam rolling and trying to get to one yoga class a week. This summer thouh, not so much! I really need to get back into it!!!
Carmelo
I always wanted to do yoga. The hard part is finding a studio that works with my schedule. I never thought I would have ever said I wanted to do yoga but ever since I’ve been running I’ve come to realize how core strength and flexibility is important.
Missy
I have fallen in love with Jillian’s yoga dvd and I am trying to do it at least twice a week. I have never done a yoga class before but of course I would love to try it out. I never thought I would like Yoga, but I really love it! Especially after a hard day at work, it’s a good workout to calm and relax yourself.
Ida
I am sooooo bad about stretching/yoga-ing enough. I think runners should do 15min a day of stretching and some stability work on top of that. Of course I dont follow my own advice!
Lilly
Love yoga but don’t get to a class as often as I’d like, especially in the summer time. So I try to do a little yoga each day, 10 minutes a day after a run or workout six days a week equals about an hour a week, so I call that equal to a class ;) I did my own “30 day challenge” by promising to do at least a pose a day- it motivated me and usually I would do more then just one once I started doing it. So good for the mind and body… Ommm’
Keelie (SweatEqualsSuccess)
I yoga daily! I made it a part of the warmup that I require my students to do, and I usually get down on the floor and do the warmup with them! It’s significantly less relaxing and centering when you’re convincing a bunch of elementary kids to keep stretching, but it still feels awesome! :)
running ricig
I usually do about 10-15 minutes of yoga stretches after my runs.
Emily@RunningPerspective
love yogadownloads its a 20 min yoga tape that i LOVE i need to do more yoga way more often tho! thanks for this post girl its an EXTRA REMINDER!!
Rachelle
When I consistently do yoga 3 times a week I feel the strongest and most balanced. I sometimes have a hard time getting in enough because if a choice is to be made I choose running. Have you tried hot yoga/vinyasa? I used to not like yoga b/c I felt like I was wasting my time but when you leave those classes you feel like Gumby and you look like you got out of the pool…best feeling!
Holly @ Pink Runner
I love it, but I go in phases with yoga. Some weeks I will do 1-2 hours another others I will skip it completely. I love yogadownload.com
Brittany @ A Spoonful of Peanut Butter
Oh Lord- yoga has been on my mind ever since I made it one of my goals for August. See, the problem is that I NEED to do it because it’ll make my runs better. BUT, I don’t have any patience for it. I LOVE the jillian michaels yoga DVD, but do you know any others that are really good and not too long?
I always stretch out after my runs but not as much as I should!
Kate @ Chasing It
I’ve never done yoga before but I’ve only ever heard good things about it! I stretch twice a day though – always after my run (plus a foam roller sesh of course) and most nights before bed!
Brittany
I used to get bored during yoga but now that i’m running a lot more I LOVE it. I try to do it at least once a week but sometimes I don’t even get to do that. I need to start doing it way more! such a good way to stretch.
Alisa @ Runs with Knives
I yoga it up everyday! Sometimes twice a day. When my running got serious, I looked into yoga specifically for runners. I fell for “The Athlete’s Pocket Guide to Yoga” by Sage Rountree. It’s great for people who know the basics of yoga and gives you a lot of variety (strength, stretching, balance, etc). It’s not just poses either, but whole routines. Everyone needs this book now!
emily
i go to at least one hour long yoga class a week and i LIVE for it. i’d love to have time for more (not reality right now). i’m not a fan of jillian’s yoga dvd. i have it and i’ve tried it a few times but it doesn’t feel like yoga to me. power yoga with a vinyasa-type flow is my favorite.
Anna
I’m doing a 21 day challenge of Yoga! :D
I don’t know if there is a thing of too much yoga [I’m sure there is though!] I think you just have to listen to your body on this one! If it’s tight, stretch it out with some yoga!
Andrea
I do Yoga X (90 min) every Thursday, and stretch every day. I have a yoga mat behind the couch in the living room and when I roll it out all the kids get excited and want to stretch as well. :) Motivation.
Carina
I would say an hour per month? I bumped up my mileage a lot training for Boston and there just wasn’t enough time. Now my mileage is back down, but I am filling the extra time with non-fitness activities. I’m pretty good about stretching after every run though, esp now that it’s warm out and I’m not hurrying back into my car or the house to be warm.
Stephanie
I just recently started doing yoga. I only do it once a week though. I use the free on demend yoga work outs on my TV.
Krista
I am obsessed with Hot Yoga now! I started doing it because they had a deal for the first two weeks, then I got another great deal on Living Social. I love it! Each class is 80 minutes and I figured that I burn about 1000 calories. It is insane. At first it was the hardest thing I had ever done and I barely made it through the first class, now I can do about 90% of the moves (not always correctly, but at least I try). I have way more energy, I sleep better, my back pain and IT band pain are gone, and even better, I am losing belly fat! I know yoga is not always cheap, but I always see deals on Groupon, Living Social, etc. as well as great prices at community centers.
By the way, check out the giveaway on my blog if you would like to win super cool jewelry for runners!
http://chick9clothing.blogspot.com/
So far only one person has entered….so if you enter now there is a good chance you could win!
Krista
Emily :)
I’ve never done Yoga before… but I plan on starting in a few weeks at least one time a week, and I plan on using Bob Harper’s Inside out method of yoga – it’s an hour yoga with weights!! I’d def have to work up to doing it an hour, but that is the goal for me, along with doing his strength and cardio dvds in the same inside out method. Both an hour long! Looking forward to it
MelissaRuth
I go to yoga 3x a week. My studio is one of those HOT Yoga studios and the classes are each 1.5 hours. I LOVE it.
Beth (Well I'll Be)
I try to do it at least twice a week. It’s one of those things that seems like a chore but I love it during and especially the feeling after!
Meg
I recently fell in love with yoga and try to get to 4-5 classes a week, but the new gym I joined also has a really weird schedule, so I’m down to about 3. I’m really bad at doing it on my own and also stretching and foam rolling after runs anymore, so I need as much as I can get!
Katie
LOVE yoga!!! This is so hilarious, because it just happened to be my workout today!! :) I love P90x, and with the program, I do yoga once a week for about 2 hours. Yeah, it’s intense (but you already knew that!) :)
Lauren @ Sugar Coated Sisters
Such a great post…. loved reading all of the comments.
I’m stuggling to add yoga into my workout routine. Like others, I found a local deal on living social but it is expiring soon and I might be too cheap to find another class. I think with yoga downloads or a dvd I wouldn’t actually hold myself accountable and do them…. hmmm
Jessica @ Baybaybites
My aim is to do yoga once a week for an hour but I find if something has to fall off the workout list, it’s usually yoga. I think it’s because I do it at home and I don’t go anywhere.
When I got on vacation in two weeks I plan to do it at least 2-3 times. Another blogger–Eat, Live, Run challenged her readers to do at least 10 minutes of yoga for 21 days. I really need to do that. I could even do that on my lunch breaks!
Rebecca
I tend to do more yoga while injured, though I should do it everyday because I feel much better when I do.
I’m now battling a tight IT band so I’m doing it more often right now. I wish I hadn’t waited until I really needed it to get back into it. It’s pure heaven! I think regular yoga can protect runners from injuries.
stephanie
i think it is so important, but I am bad at sitting and making myself stretch well enough. I do yoga about 3 times/week to make sure I get some good stretching in, but then do my best to stretch after runs and in the shower. you should try doing some yoga outside (free bikram yoga ;) if you dont want to do it infront of your BIL
Dorry
I’ve been doing a whole lotta yoga since working at lululemon – it’s an amazing part of the job! I go about 5 times/week. It’s been great mentally and physically. The best part about yoga is that you can do it at home, too. :)
Samantha @ Running and Cupcakes
I try to do yoga once a week, and I also try to do the P90X X-Stretch DVD once a week, which would equal out to about 2 hours a week.
I don’t stretch post-run enough, but I am working on it because I have some serious miles to log in the next few weeks for my next marathon and I don’t want to get injured!
Elizabeth @ reads recipes runs
I stretch almost every day, but I do a good yoga routine at least once a week. I downloaded a podcast of yoga for runners, and it is magical post-run.
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