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8 Yoga poses for injury-free running

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Yoga can help prevent injuries during running.
Yoga can help prevent injuries during running.

You already know that strong abs, hips and back muscles help you run more efficiently with less risk of injury.

But time can be tight – especially if you’re ramping up mileage – and when it feels like something has to give, strength training is often the first to go.

Instead of scrolling through Facebook or Instagram postrun, wind down with this eight-pose, 8- to 10-minute core routine, which targets all the layers of your abdominal muscles, back extensors and glutes. 

Slotted along the way are some stretches to give you a break and improve range of motion in your hips. The moves take only a short time, but they’ll help you log hours of injury-free running.

Boat pose

Keeping your spine long and legs together, come into a V-sit. For the easier version, bend your knees or keep your feet on the ground. Make it harder by straightening your legs and lifting your arms. Hold for five to 15 breaths.

boat pose, yoga

Cross-legged forward fold

Cross your ankles and fold your torso over your legs, stretching your outer hips for 10 to 15 breaths.

forward fold pose, yoga

Twisting boat pose

Return to your V-sit and, keeping your spine long and legs together, exhale to twist to one side. Inhale to center, then exhale to the other side. Continue for five to 10 rounds.

Cross-legged forward fold

Cross your ankles with the other shin in front and fold your torso over your legs for another 10 to 15 breaths.

Read more: 8 yoga moves for time-crunched runners

Listing boat pose

Return to your V-sit and rock onto your right glute. For more of a challenge, lower your legs and upper body closer to the ground. Hold for five to 10 breaths, then repeat on the left side.

Cobbler pose

Bring the soles of your feet to touch and lean forward, stretching your inner thighs for 10 to 15 breaths.

cobbler pose, yoga

Read more: 5 gentle yoga poses that help relieve stress

Bridge pose

From your back, knees bent, press your hips up and your hands down, engaging your glutes and hamstrings while stretching your hip flexors. Hold for 10 to 15 breaths.

bridge pose, yoga

Locust Y jumping jacks

Roll to your belly and lift your arms, chest, and legs off the floor. Move through slow “jumping jacks”: Inhale, spread your arms to a Y, and squeeze your legs together, then exhale, bring your arms together, and spread your legs to a Y. Repeat five to 15 cycles.

locust pose, yoga

This article was originally published on www.runnersworld.co.za

Image credits: iStock

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