About
Running Yogini fuses the spirit of running and yoga for long-term success in the pursuit of achievement in running and life.
.Integration of body and mind 
A time efficient, incremental movement series was created to address the whole body and can be completed for warm up and recovery. This integrative series creates focus and body awareness and is used to discover the ease and joy in running and wellness.
Running and Yoga
Yoga postures are utilized to increase flexibility and strength, and yogic breathing to bring awareness to the body. Yoga movement is a massage for the body and increases blood flow to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Increased blood flow brings oxygen to the muscles improving performance and removes toxic buildup speeding recovery. The dichotomy in yoga of using muscles in opposition builds strength and flexibility resulting in improved range of motion, lubricated and healthier joints, and a stronger performance.
Correct Running Form
Correct running form is important to realize the power and ease in running. Four muscles in the hip area are essential to running performance. Muscles in the upper back move in conjunction with hip muscles and this combined movement brings ease and speed to running. Specific exercises are taught to bring awareness to this area and to strengthen these muscles to get full hip rotation and upper body power, thus increasing running efficiency while reducing effort.
Running and Breathing Patterns
Various breathing patterns are utilized to target specific training outcomes. Consistently using faster breathing patterns trains the body to go into a perceived stress mode while running, causing the adrenal glands to pump cortisol into the body. By not changing this training pattern, recovery is never fully achieved. Without full recovery the constant breaking down of the muscles, ligaments and tendons can lead to chronic injury or serious damage forcing an end to running all together. Body awareness exercises refocus the runner on perceived effort. Different breathing patterns are incorporated into training to teach the body to relax and to utilize different energy sources within the body, making endurance running more efficient.
An integrative approach of breathing, focus and body awareness:
- Breathing – various patterns of breathing are used for different stages of running to stay relaxed and maintain focus.
- Focus – visualization and meditation techniques are used to strengthen confidence and achieve goals.
- Body Awareness – learn to listen to the body for injury prevention and life-long wellness.
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These skills and philosophies can be applied to all facets of life leading to patience, determination, perseverance, and accomplishment.
