running & other sports .. was: 7 days a week, except moon days?

[Guest guest]

Margee wrote [[How do you incorporate the running and ashtanga. I

found that when I ran I couldn't get enough flexibility in my hips or

knees to do any of the binding poses and twists.]]

** At first, it was challenging. Not in my hips, but in my knees.

The two quads right about the patella were very tight.

 

I have an interesting book called /Yoga for Every Athlete/. It was

written by an Olympic coach who practices Hatha Yoga. He divides the

poses based on sport modality.

 

Before I run, I warm up with a 'short' & modified Ashtanga routine

that incorporates these sport-specific poses. In a few weeks, my

tight knees were no longer an issue. I dont know if I mentioned it

or not, but I am currently in training for a half century (50 mile

cross-country race). My goal is not to place or show, but to just

not stop!

 

The suggestions from the book for runners are:

- In general: inverted poses that effect the spine.

 

- Specific poses:

Half Shoulderstand & Shoulderstand

 

Headstand

 

Leg Stretches (Head to Knee, to Side, etc)

 

Nataraj

 

Sitting Fwd Bend

 

Camel

 

Lunge

 

Ab breathing & meditation for "speeding up the recovery process"

 

He also recommends Autogenic Training & Raja Yoga exercises

for "controlling the mental & emotional states". Both are discussed

at length in the book.

 

This book has been in print for quite sometime. I am sure you would

be able to find it used or at a library. The ISBN is: 1-56718-387-5.

 

The sports-specific Yoga routines it details are:

boxing, biking, fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice skating, ice hocky,

roller skating, shooting, archery, yachting, race car driving,

skiing, swimming, aquatic sports, wrestling & judo, weightlifting,

team sports, soccer, tennis, racquet sports, track & field, walking &

running, jumping events (long, high & triple), throwing events

(shotput, javelin, discus).

 

Because I practice MA 2 to 3 times a week, I also use the suggestions

he offers for 'wrestling & judo'.

 

Om Shanti ...

Shakti