Runner’s Yoga – Official Blog

Received an email from J with a great question in it about the breath and flow in the Runner’s Yoga routine. So thought I’d post my answer here for any others who might be wondering the same thing as J.

Email me if you have any questions and I’ll try to get to as many as I can.

Van
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Hi J,

Thanks for your email. And congratulations on your great start with Runner’s Yoga.

Also, good question!

Traditionally in Ashtanga yoga every movement is coordinated with just one inhale or exhale until you’re holding the final posture. This is a challenge for everyone in the beginning, (me included!) and perhaps no more so than in Mountain Series B. (Sun Salutation B)

But there are definite benefits to doing it this way: strength building, heat-building (for more effective, safer stretching), endurance, focus and flow. And with persistence it gets easier and easier until eventually we look back and wonder what the big deal was.

When we add the beat to the routine, we add further challenge, and initially it can be difficult to move smoothly at that pace. But again, with persistence this also falls into place and takes us to another level that we couldn’t have achieved otherwise. (e.g. The 60BPM flow is wonderful for turning off the intellectual side of the brain.)

Having these challenges in the Runner’s Yoga program gives us plenty to work on … for years! (I’m STILL trying to do just one Mountain Series A with ‘perfect’ focus, fluidity and alignment.)

But as always, YOU are the boss – if you want to remain in warrior pose (or any other posture)
for an extra breath, I say “Go ahead!” Then, to stay in time with the audio, come out of Mountain Pose after 3 breaths instead of 4.

I’ll post this on the Blog too, because it’s a great question. Let me know if anything else comes up.

All the best,

Van

I’ve just finished producing six free lessons you are sent automatically when you sign up at RunnersYoga.com. (Enter your name and email address in the pop-up box, or about half way down the Home Page.)

I gave the lessons the shamelessly enticing title of “Six Secrets to Becoming a Yoga Master; Including How to do Yoga’s Most Difficult Pose.” (You have to wait for Lesson #6 for that last bit )

The content it covers (proper yoga breathing, effective exercise stretching, etc.) is not specific to the Runners Yoga routine – it will be valuable to any yoga practice. (In fact, much of it can be applied to any fitness training, yoga for health, or home exercise plan.)

Also, the movie files in the complete Runner’s Yoga Program are now downloadable in MP4 format. (In addition to the previous WMV & MOV.)

I have also found a free solution to the challenge that some owners of Mac computers face playing different video formats. I’ll be posting the link to the Freeware on the product download page today.

That’s it for now. (Haven’t forgot about Part 2 of Why Runners Need Yoga. Just on overwhelm with other chores at the moment.)

Hey … HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Have an amazing ‘09.

All the best,

Van