Summer is finally upon us, which means it's time to embrace the warm weather and build up a sweat with some of your favorite outdoor pastimes. For many people, this is the time of year to get out their jogging shoes – running is one of the top summer sports. But there's more you can do to prepare for the strenuous activity than lacing up your sneakers – turn to yoga poses to improve your performance.
Yoga benefits the body in a wide variety of ways, many of which can directly benefit your experience as a runner. One of the biggest perks is that it improves flexibility, which helps to keep you limber for those long jaunts and prevent injury related to pulling a ligament or muscle. The practice works to increase balance – as you conduct the gentle postures, whether they're complex or for beginners, you will begin to notice that you have a greater awareness of your own posture and stability. This can prevent spills during races and help you maintain a safe and efficient posture.
Breathing exercises involved in the practice can aid you in your ability to control inhalation and exhalation while running. Additionally, yoga is known to boost improve energy by focusing on proper flow of ki and boost circulation throughout the body, which may help you maintain stamina. Additionally, as yoga practitioners continue to take classes and enhance the connection between the mind and body, they often find themselves feeling more confident in themselves. And, as any runner knows, a certain level of confidence and trust in one's own abilities is essential for this sport.