Hey all, has anyone personally experienced the benefits of incorporating yoga into their bfr training? I've heard a few positives and negatives about it and am curious. I've done yoga in conjunction with training that I do for surfing and have thought about looking up runners specific yoga.....thoughts?
Yoga
- Thread starter Colin
- Start date
NickW
Guest
Here's the link to it Colin.
http://www.thebarefootrunners.org/cz-groups-thread/yoga-class-for-runners.713/
http://www.thebarefootrunners.org/cz-groups-thread/yoga-class-for-runners.713/
Ah that's right I thought I recalled seeing something in our ch threads. At the present time my budget wouldn't allow me to spend money on a class but perhaps soon. It's promising knowing one of our members is a yoga instructor...most be of some benefit right? lol
NickW
Guest
I do a little on my own, but I am not even going to act like I am knowledgeable or even good at yoga. I just do what my back allows me to and what feels good. I'm not into doing anything (poses) that are overly hard or difficult. I'm definitely a product of my fathers side and am a little clumsy too so... 
Absolutely, I follow an ashtanga style yoga with pretty continuous movement and very little in the way of static poses. It's called Jivamukti yoga and I think it oroginated in New York, but it's not a running specific style.
People think of yoga as just a bit of stretching, but on a good day I will have a pool of sweat on my mat. I do at least one session a week and when I was struggling with a knee/ITB problem did just yoga, stretching and knee work for a whole week
People think of yoga as just a bit of stretching, but on a good day I will have a pool of sweat on my mat. I do at least one session a week and when I was struggling with a knee/ITB problem did just yoga, stretching and knee work for a whole week
I see no correlation, or any benefits between barefoot running and yoga. In yoga you are stagnant and bored, running barefoot you are moving and having fun. I suffered a fierce IT issues years ago, I looked into the whole yoga thing, PT, and stretching. All three were unsuccessful in curing my ITBS. First thing first, never stretch for IT issues. Yoga is the worse thing you can do if you suffer from ITBS.
The IT band is not meant to be lengthened or stretched. The common problem that causes IT issues is weak out leg muscles that lie underneath the IT band. You need to do air squats, lunges, various leg exercises, and in my opinion, the best workout to cure ITBS is kettlebell swings.
http://naturalrunningcenter.com/2011/03/29/itb-syndrome-avoid-icing-stretching-and-orthotics/
The IT band is not meant to be lengthened or stretched. The common problem that causes IT issues is weak out leg muscles that lie underneath the IT band. You need to do air squats, lunges, various leg exercises, and in my opinion, the best workout to cure ITBS is kettlebell swings.
http://naturalrunningcenter.com/2011/03/29/itb-syndrome-avoid-icing-stretching-and-orthotics/
I stretch my ITB utilizing the classic cross-legged bend down and reach technique.
I stretch my hamstrings by lying on my back and putting a palm on a sole with the leg verticle while holding for a bit.
I am always barefoot, and bungied to some cable ties on the ceiling of the LB van is a rolled up sheet of marine vinyl used as a windshield privacy curtain when needed.
I've been mistaken for a yoga enthusiast/teacher/master all too many times, and nothing I say in defence is enough to dispell that misjudgement......TWICE I had folks convinced but once they saw the sun/privacy
shade rolled up they decided I was just hiding the truth for some reason.
Yesterday an auto repair worker at a facility I've never been to before recommended where I might grab a bite while he serviced a vehicle of mine. He said that the place is owned and operated by a really cool local, and noticing my feet he said " He'll be fine with you dressed like that, he'll tell you to feel free to unroll your Yoga mat in the middle of his restaurant".
And this guy never even saw the sun shade!
My wife constantly encourages me to join her for some Yoga, but I always tell her she's just doing a bit of stretch and tone.
Maybe one day I'll end up taking the leap to the spiritual side.
I stretch my hamstrings by lying on my back and putting a palm on a sole with the leg verticle while holding for a bit.
I am always barefoot, and bungied to some cable ties on the ceiling of the LB van is a rolled up sheet of marine vinyl used as a windshield privacy curtain when needed.
I've been mistaken for a yoga enthusiast/teacher/master all too many times, and nothing I say in defence is enough to dispell that misjudgement......TWICE I had folks convinced but once they saw the sun/privacy
shade rolled up they decided I was just hiding the truth for some reason.
Yesterday an auto repair worker at a facility I've never been to before recommended where I might grab a bite while he serviced a vehicle of mine. He said that the place is owned and operated by a really cool local, and noticing my feet he said " He'll be fine with you dressed like that, he'll tell you to feel free to unroll your Yoga mat in the middle of his restaurant".
And this guy never even saw the sun shade!
My wife constantly encourages me to join her for some Yoga, but I always tell her she's just doing a bit of stretch and tone.
Maybe one day I'll end up taking the leap to the spiritual side.
If you're stangant and bored, then you're doing the wrong yoga, and ypou're also propgating a really crappy stereotype.
You need to find a better teacher. In the style I do, there is a lot of the strenghthening work that you and Longboard advocate, and some of the exercises I've found specific to ITB are found in the sequences. Plus if you are doing it right (which it sounds like your yoga teacher was not enforcing) then you also get a very good core workout.
Seriously, look up Jivamukti or another flowing ashtanga style. I was sceptical too, until about 2 years ago, I've not had a back problem since
I just got home from an hour and a half forrest yoga class. I've been practicing for about a year. The classes I take are not focused on running, it's about so much more. It's changed my life, truth be told.
That said, I think it is a natural complement to barefoot or min shod running as the pursuits all encourage and reward mindfulness and listening to your body.
I've been fortunate to have gifted teacher, perhaps that's why I find it so rewarding. I was also ready to accept the lessons.
Good luck.
That said, I think it is a natural complement to barefoot or min shod running as the pursuits all encourage and reward mindfulness and listening to your body.
I've been fortunate to have gifted teacher, perhaps that's why I find it so rewarding. I was also ready to accept the lessons.
Good luck.
That's just about where I was two years ago, I really think you need to be ready for yoga, and the right teacher is so important. I think it's also very good at foot strengthening and feeling the connection between the ground and your feet
I could agree more. I tried yoga some years back but I wasn't ready. Instead, I started Pilates. I've been doing that for almost six years. I still get a lot out of my pilates classes and have continued to go while starting yoga. In fact I owe it to my Pilates instructor that he was committed to waking up our feet. That helped me ditch my old running shoes.
But I am so grateful that I tried yoga again. I feel stronger physically, emotionally, and spiritually as a result.
I haven't felt the call of yoga yet, but I have a lot of friends who benefit enormously from it. It's important for everyone to find what works for them, and to support each other in our different goals/quests. And yeah, finding the right teacher/school is key. I've been thinking of getting back into the martial arts, I feel it calling my name again, but this time I'll seek out a non-fullcontact style, something a little more spiritual and gentler on the body. Mostly I want to feel the pleasure of doing high kicks again.
I started Yoga about three years ago, basically I was looking for something I could do besides my normal running, without much interest in cross-training and zero in joining a gym. Still going to that class once a week, sometimes twice, found it a nice approach to listen to my body, learn how to relax, proper breathing, also as I am lazy on stretching, I found that a few sun salutations after running, or sometimes later, just do the same. Currently I am focusing on Yoga for upper body strength, as this is still one of my weak parts. Plus my Yoga teacher being a specialist in Ayurveda, always provides some handy and tips when it comes to nutrition as well.
After all, Yoga is neither a must nor to be avoided ( I recall a line from "Born to Run" where Chris McDougall asked another runner if he should do yoga to stay injury free, and got slapped for that question), if you like it, fine, if not, no problem
After all, Yoga is neither a must nor to be avoided ( I recall a line from "Born to Run" where Chris McDougall asked another runner if he should do yoga to stay injury free, and got slapped for that question), if you like it, fine, if not, no problem
I was always skeptical about a martial art in which you lower your head to knee or foot level, but as pure exercise, it's hard to imagine anything better. And it would be a good way to help my wife plug into the Brazilian community here and find some Portuguese-speaking friends. Thanks for the suggestion.
I've been practicing yoga for about a year and a half now (2-3 times a week). I think that it has greatly improved my injury resistance. My body is much more evenly balanced left and right, and I definitely see where my imbalances are. In my experience, a lot of injuries and pain are caused by a problem somewhere else in your body, and a lot of times it seems to be a right/left muscle imbalance. Body awareness is a great thing. Plus it is a challenging, fun, low impact workout.
Mike, I'd hesitate to do alot of what Madonna does.
I think many folks are way out of touch with their bodies, and for many yoga is a fine way to get quiet and familiar within themselves. Not much harm there, if done with care. I wouldn't go mucking about with my legs or connecting bits too much, though.
For some, yoga is an excellent target for curmudgeonly expression. Bless them.
I think many folks are way out of touch with their bodies, and for many yoga is a fine way to get quiet and familiar within themselves. Not much harm there, if done with care. I wouldn't go mucking about with my legs or connecting bits too much, though.
For some, yoga is an excellent target for curmudgeonly expression. Bless them.
