Running is one of the most effective, affordable and convenient ways to work out. But it can also take a brutal toll on the body. Runners often show up to yoga suffering from injuries and pain. Some can be so tight that it takes months – and, in extreme cases, even years – to develop a normal range of flexibility. Fortunately, nearly all running injuries can be alleviated and even prevented with yoga. If you lov
I’ve been an athlete for the better part of my life, developing and nurturing a love of running since I was in high school. Running originally brought me to yoga, as I sought out an exercise to counter how tight my hips, thighs, hamstrings, and calves felt constantly. Yoga proved to be an ideal solution; where running tightens the body, yoga brings release and stretch. Throughout my own yoga journey, both as a practi
The illiotibial band (commonly called IT band) is a thick strip of connective tissue that connects several muscles on the outside of the thigh. It extends from the outer hip to the outer shin, and although it is not a muscle, tightness in this band affects the muscles it connects, and also destabilizes the knee. Why does it get tight? Two reasons: overuse (of the muscles that it connects) and poor stretching. Overuse