A Side of Sweet

Beautiful Food, Travel & Design

  • About
    • Contact
      • Collaborate
      • Photography for Your Business
    • In the Press
    • Subscribe
    • Pinky Promise (Disclosure & Privacy Policy)
  • Eat
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast/Brunch
    • Desserts
      • Cakes & Cupcakes
      • Cookies
      • Ice Cream
      • Pies & Tarts
    • Main Dishes
    • Snacks
      • Healthy Snacks
    • Drinks
    • Soups
    • Salads
    • Side Dishes
    • Vegan Recipes
    • Gluten Free Recipes
    • Dog Treats
    • Holiday Recipes
    • Halloween Recipes
    • Party Recipe Ideas
    • Round Ups
    • Summer Treats
  • Make
    • Beauty DIYS
    • Gift Ideas
    • Home Decor
    • Paper Projects
    • Party Ideas
    • Photobooths
    • Things To Wear
    • Collections
  • Go
    • California
      • San Francisco
      • Bay Area
      • Los Angeles
    • USA
      • California
        • San Francisco
        • Bay Area
        • Los Angeles
      • Alaska
      • Oregon
        • Portland
      • Philadelphia
      • Washington
        • Seattle
      • Arizona
    • Africa
      • Egypt
      • Morocco
        • Asilah
        • Chefchaouen
        • Fez
        • Marrakech
      • South Africa
        • Cape Town
    • Asia + Middle East
      • Dubai
      • Egypt
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Japan
      • Qatar
      • Thailand
    • Central America
      • Honduras
      • Mexico
        • Cancun
        • Tulum
      • Guatemala
      • Belize
    • Europe
      • Greece
      • Iceland
      • Italy
      • London/UK
        • Manchester
      • Portugal
      • Spain
  • Style
    • Beauty
    • Fashion
    • Wed
  • Learn
    • Blogging
    • Photography
  • Shop
    • My Baking Essentials
    • My Photography Equipment
Home » Travel » Bay Area » 5 Yoga Poses for Runners + PUMA

5 Yoga Poses for Runners + PUMA

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

5 Yoga Poses for Runners

This past weekend, Pat and I decided that we were due for a little adventure. We packed up our YoGo mats and did the short bike ride from San Francisco across the bridge to Rodeo Beach in the Marin Headlands. We then swapped out our cycling shoes for sneakers and walked with our bikes about 10 minutes north along one of the hiking trails that lines the coast. This took us to the most amazing cliff overlook with a big flat clearing. It was almost like being in Big Sur and absolutely the perfect setting for some impromptu yoga! Have I mentioned how spoiled we are living in San Francisco? What a way to spend the first day of November!

Click through for 5 great running poses for runners!

Puma Running Shoes #Running #GearHiking Marin Headlands - #SanFrancisco #Marin #Travel

With all the running I do, it’s important to stay balanced and healthy by incorporating cross training and stretching into my routine. Cycling is a great cross training exercise for runners because it’s low impact and builds both strength and cardiovascular fitness. Research has shown that dynamic stretching, like yoga, is way better in building flexibility and decreasing exercises than traditional stretching (think the sit and reach or holding one arm across your chest). We use our YoGo mats to do yoga even when we’re on the go traveling or camping. They are light, compact, 100% recyclable and 100% biodegradable. But you don’t have to do a full on yoga session to reap the benefits!

Here are 5 yoga poses for runners that I try to do at least a few times per week. With just a few minutes of effort you can decrease injury risk and improve post-workout muscle soreness. Thanks to PUMA for providing the great looks you see in these photos.

Yoga Poses for Runners #yoga #tips #running

1. Downward Facing Dog :: This first pose, adho mukha svanasana (you probably know it as downward facing dog), is a standard that is one of the first poses of most yoga classes. There’s a reason for that – downward facing dog stretches out the posterior muscles of your leg – calves (gastrocnemius and soleus) and hamstrings. Pedal your legs up and down and keep your shoulders relaxed to get an amazing full body stretch. The pose also builds arm and shoulder strength, something that running doesn’t help much for.

5 Yoga Poses for Athletes

2. Plank Pose :: Speaking of arm strength – a straight arm or elbow plank is a great way to increase upper body and core strength that is often neglected in runners. You can easily move from downward facing dog into plank during your mini stretch session.

Yoga Poses for Athletes #yoga #tips #running3. Dancer’s Pose :: Setting up for Natarajasana, or Dancer’s Pose is my favorite part. As you can see in the first picture, this is an excellent hip flexor and quad stretch. My hip flexors are chronically tight because of all the impact of frequent running. You can stay here, or open up into the full pose seen on the right.

5 Yoga Poses for Runners

4. Pigeon Pose :: Pigeon pose is a modification of Eka Pada Rajakapotasana and is one of my favorite yoga poses. It’s an amazing hip opener. Keeping your hip muscles flexible is a huge part of preventing running-related injuries. Many running-related ailments can be traced back to hip imbalances. If your hips are tight it can throw off the rest of the muscles in the leg and set you up for anything from ilio-tibial band syndrome to shin splints. Breathe through the agony discomfort so you can get the most out of this pose.

Best Easy Yoga Poses

5. Seated Spinal Twist :: To complete this mini series, finish with a gentle spinal twist that offers a balance to all the back and forward motion from running and offers more hip opening. Use your inhales to extend the spine and exhales to deepen the twist.

And that’s that! Just a few poses of many that are great for runners. Seriously, five minutes and five poses on a regular basis can make a huge difference!

What yoga poses do you swear by?

5 Yoga Poses for Athletes

When we’re not active riding bikes, hiking, and doing yoga, our typical weekend routine usually involves visiting on of the several amazing coffee shops in our San Francisco ‘hood – the Outer Sunset. You might have caught this look on Instagram last weekend but I wanted to share it again here. I love this look because it’s comfortable and casual, but still versatile enough to wear anywhere from post work-out to coffee hunt. How great is the neckline on that sweater? Wayyy better than your usual hoodie.

Thanks so much for reading A Side of Sweet! For more Sweet in your life, you can find me on Instagram, Pinterest, Bloglovin’, or Twitter, or subscribe to receive a weekly email with new posts (see sidebar).

Casual Puma Weekend Look

Outfit Deets :: Active look – Gym Tank, Move 3/4 Capris, Mobium XT sneakers. Casual look – French Terry Sweatshirt, Progressive Trend Pants, Carson Runner sneakers, all found at PUMA.com

Puma-Relaxed-Comfort-Look-162

Disclosures and disclaimers: I’m a medical doctor, but I’m not your doctor. Consult your personal physician before starting any exercise routine. I enjoy yoga but I’m not a yoga professional. I’m well aware that my technique in these poses isn’t perfect – my practice is a work in progress. Thanks to YoGo for the sweet yoga travel mats! This post was sponsored by FitFluential LLC on behalf  of PUMA. Thank YOU for supporting the sponsors that keep me moving!

Casual Puma Weekend Look

Tips for Fighting Workout Burnout
Nike Women's Half Marathon + Jawbone UP24 Update

Related

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

November 5, 2014  â€¢  Filed Under: Bay Area, California, Health & Fitness 17 Comments

Comments

  1. Ashley @ A Lady Goes West says

    November 5, 2014 at 11:01 am

    Hi Kelly! Cute stuff, I love the yoga posing on the cliff-side. My favorite yoga pose is the wheel — -something about it just stretches my whole body out, leaves me a little breathless and feels great. Happy Wednesday, doc!

    Reply
    • Kelly Egan says

      November 5, 2014 at 6:45 pm

      I have a love hate relationship with wheel – I feel like every year it gets a little tougher and makes me feel so old and creaky! Happy Wednesday to you lady!

      Reply
  2. Kelly @ Life made Sweeter says

    November 5, 2014 at 3:20 pm

    Oh my goodness, that is such a gorgeous and serene view to practice yoga. I love all those poses you shared – all my favorites too plus child’s pose at the end:)

    Reply
    • Kelly Egan says

      November 5, 2014 at 6:45 pm

      I LOVE child’s pose! So important to have some relaxation and rest after some of the more intense poses.

      Reply
  3. Sarah @ Snixy Kitchen says

    November 5, 2014 at 3:47 pm

    Cute clothes! What a pretty place to do yoga!

    Reply
    • Kelly Egan says

      November 5, 2014 at 6:44 pm

      Thanks Sarah!

      Reply
  4. Nancy says

    November 5, 2014 at 9:24 pm

    I love yoga and I always do a yin yoga class that is offered at the climbing gym I go to. That one especially is a fav of mine since it only incorporates deep tissue stretches in the lower part of the body. I have found my hips to be quite tight, and it’s especially great to go before hitting up the bouldering wall. I feel SO much more flexible and stronger, lol. That pigeon pose? Nearly impossible for me, but I’m getting there – after a few months of regular yoga-goin’.

    Reply
    • Kelly Egan says

      November 7, 2014 at 6:20 pm

      That’s so cool that your climbing gym also offers yoga! I hear you, I definitely can’t do pigeon pose the way it’s meant to be done. I’m a work in progress!

      Reply
  5. Janelle says

    November 6, 2014 at 3:11 am

    I love the bound angle pose. Feels great after a run

    Reply
    • Kelly Egan says

      November 7, 2014 at 6:21 pm

      Ooo, bound angle! Good one! Thanks for the suggestion!

      Reply
  6. Sarah @ Making Thyme for Healt says

    November 6, 2014 at 10:28 am

    Gorgeous shots! Although I might be partial to the ones with Maddie. She is like a much skinnier younger version of my dog, haha. She’s adorable!

    Pigeon pose is my favorite because my hips always feel tight when I run. But I could always use a little more stretching so I’ll have to pin this to remind myself to add the other ones in too!

    Reply
    • Kelly Egan says

      November 7, 2014 at 6:21 pm

      Awww, I love labs. She’s such a good sport and always up for an adventure!

      Reply
  7. Valerie | Pursuit of Sweetness says

    November 6, 2014 at 10:38 am

    I’m a HUGE fan of pigeon pose! I’ve been incorporating yoga into my marathon training this time around and love it! The stretching + the relaxation have been great compliments to the intensity + nerves 🙂

    Reply
    • Kelly Egan says

      November 7, 2014 at 6:22 pm

      I think it’s almost impossible to train safely for a long distance run without doing yoga! Glad to hear you’re staying injury free this time!

      Reply
  8. Carla (@charliesue) says

    November 7, 2014 at 11:56 am

    Is it wrong that I liked the yoga but I LOVED all the pretty clothes? I especially dig the sweatshirt you posted last- that neckline IS awesome. Eep! (PS- Have you ever been to Tennessee Beach? You have to hike out, but the beach is SO worth it. http://www.yelp.com/biz/tennessee-valley-mill-valley)

    Reply
    • Kelly Egan says

      November 7, 2014 at 6:23 pm

      Hahah, you’re too funny! I’m telling you – the sweatshirt! I definitely have it on 90% of the time during my staycation. I will definitely check out Tennessee Beach – always look for new adventure spots!

      Reply
  9. Kelly Egan says

    November 11, 2014 at 9:23 pm

    That’s great to hear! Thanks so much Olivia!

    Reply

Share Your Thoughts Cancel reply

Welcome!

San Francisco Food, Fashion, Travel Blogger

Hi! I’m Kelly. I live in San Francisco with my husband, Pat, and our puppy, Maddie. Here you’ll find recipes, DIYs, style, travel & a glimpse into our adventures. To learn a little more about me, Click Here.

Let’s Connect!

  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest

Search

Weekly Updates

Thanks a million!

Disclaimer: This blog uses affiliate links. When you make a purchase with one of these links, I’ll earn a small commission. I’m so grateful for your support (and the help with paying my grocery bill)!

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...