Welcome to our Wild Workout Wednesday link up! Each week I link up with Annmarie from The Fit Foodie Mama, Angelena Marie from Angelena Marie: Happy, Healthy & Balanced, and Sarah at Creating Better Tomorrow to bring you workout ideas, motivation, inspiration and recipes to try. Join us for a wild workout each week by reading along or grab the button and link up if you have a fitness or healthy living post to share!
Cross training is highly recommended for runners, but it’s often hard to find the time. For me, yoga is my ultimate cross training tool–maybe it’s yours too, maybe it isn’t, and maybe you just don’t know! But personally, I don’t have time to stretch regularly at all after my run workouts, so a yoga flow focusing specifically on my problem areas is the ultimate in marathon cross training.
I’ve posted, and raved, about hot yoga 5 years ago when I was training for Ironman Louisville–and even went as far as to call it our secret weapon. It seriously was. We (my husband and I) were doing hot yoga regularly once a week.
The grueling 90 minute class, with temps pushing 100 degrees:
1. trained us to control our breathing while our physical body was under distress
2. trained us to control and strengthen muscles we never knew we had to hold certain poses
3. relaxed our muscles and opened our range of motion
The results were phenomenal. And during the Ironman, I undoubtedly utilized and reaped the benefits of regularly practicing.
Anyway, with 2 kids now I can’t really make it to hot yoga classes, but I try to fit in yoga as cross training early in the morning time–and when I do, I always feel a difference immediately. I typically create my own vinyasas on the fly, just addressing what my body needs as I go along.
Lately with my marathon training my upper body has been tight (which affects my form) and my core has been failing (which also affects my form).
I’ve done core HIITs, but yoga forces you to tighten your core 100% of the time–very similar to what I need to do over the course of my long runs.
Here’s the the yoga flow I’m loving lately. No crazy twists or inversions, just working on opening up my hips and tightening my core to hit each pose.
This sequence is:
1. Mountain
2. Standing forward bend
3. Downward Dog
4. Warrior I
5. Warrior II
6. Reverse Warrior
7. Warrior II
8. Warrior I
9. Downward Dog
10. Table
11. Cat/Cow
12. Downward Dog and repeat with opposite leg forward
If you’re looking for some more structure, but can’t make it to a class, definitely check out Grokker.com for a great selection of yoga videos (and everything else!). I also utilize yogabasics.com for pose information.
You may not know that I’m a secret yogi at heart, but I’ve posted a lot about yoga over the years. I always wished I had gotten certified to teach, but my first love–running–just always took up the majority of my time! I seem to be drawn back to yoga though whenever I need to refocus in some way (like after having kids, or in the nitty-gritty of marathon training!)
Do you have a secret fitness factoid to share about yourself?
What’s your favorite way to cross train?
Linkup below if you have a workout, fitness find or healthy recipe to share! Just make sure to link back or grab the badge and we will make sure to spread the inspiration around 🙂
Also linking up with Jill Conyers for Fitness Friday!
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i love love lov ehot yoga…we moved to rural setting…AKA NO YOGA ANYWHERE PLACE…so sad and i dream of going back to hot yoga soon!!
sarah@creatingbettertomorrow recently posted…Fitting In Exercise
Yes! I dream of hot yoga too, but right now this is all I’ve got, so I try to make the best of it!
I love yoga!! But I’m a slacker….I know how much it benefits me and makes me feel good, but I can’t commit! Thanks for the kick in the pants!
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets recently posted…Philly 10K Training Week 3 Recap
Thanks! I wrote it to kick myself in the pants too and hopefully make it more regular in my last month on training!
I really need to get into yoga but I find it soooo hard- I am not that patient!!!
Annmarie recently posted…10 Ways Marathon Training Is A Lot Like Being Pregnant
Lol…it’s so relaxing and calming!
I was really good about making it to yoga all winter last year but with the warmer temps, I am outside and neglecting the yoga. Well it’s almost fall again 🙂
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…Taking Initiative
That’s why I try top make it a super early in the morning thing, before summer stuff gets in the way!
I used to love yoga for cross training, but I’ve fallen out of it lately. Instead, I’ve been more into strength training 🙂
Nicole @ Fitful Focus recently posted…4 Stretches Every Runner Needs
So much to do and so little time!!
With the exception of summer time, I do warm vinyasa at least 2 times per week and have been for over 2 years now. It is no joke of a workout and it has really helped my running. It took me almost 40 years to appreciate it. I tried several time throughout the years but it wasn’t until I was older that the peace and quiet had value while giving me a killer workout at the same time!
It is no joke Jenn! Same, peace and quiet + workout = the best!
I love hot yoga! I was doing yoga regularly before I had my daughter, and since then it is harder to make it to the classes. I do still do some yoga moves to stretch after my workouts! I need to get back to at least a weekly yoga class!
Angelena Marie recently posted…The Ultimate Fitness, Fashion & Football Giveaway + A Game Time Workout
Exactly! That’s what I’m trying I do too!
This version of Sun B is basically identical to my go to sequence that I detailed out during my yoga clinic that I did in February! Yoga is AMAZING for runners.
Susie @ Suzlyfe recently posted…Copycat Cherry Limeade Protein Smoothie Recipe for Muscle Recovery
So amazing! Thanks!!
Wonderful yoga sequence! I havent been doing alot of yoga now that its summer, I seem to crave it more in the winter! Soon enough it will be here…something to look forward too!
Autumn recently posted…3 Amazing Do-It-Yourself Fitness Tests
Yes, much easier to fit in during the off season too!
I’ve NEVER done hot yoga. But wow it sounds intense! I am really intrigued! I am a prior dancer so my little factoid is that I am a sucker for anything dance when it relates to fitness 🙂
Chrissa – Physical Kitchness recently posted…Heart Blast HIIT Workout
Hot yoga is definitely an experience! Thanks for stopping by!!
I’m marathon and really have been slacking on yoga. I need to work some flows into my routine!
I feel so much better when I do!
I’m loving a combination of cardio, HIIT and hot yoga. If I’m not training for an event is it, technically, crosstraining? Silly I know but I’ve been wondering.
Thanks for sharing with Fitness Friday Michelle. Have a fantastic weekend!
jill conyers recently posted…Five Things Friday
I think yes!! Thanks Jill!