4 reasons why adding yin to your run training is the best idea EVER

I used to run everyday.

I used to run a lot (and fairly fast).

I used to HAVE to run for my mental health.

I was running away from something.

I started practicing yin and started to listen to my body.

Now I don’t HAVE to run like I used to.

I learned to be with my body and its feelings.

Now I choose to run because I love running.

Now I just run.

4 REASONS WHY YIN IS SO GOOD FOR THOSE WITH FAST MOVING LEGS

1. Yin is a really interesting way to explore your non-competitive side. It’s not about “nailing poses” but finding the version of the pose that works for your structure.

2. It’s hugely nourishing for your tissues beyond the muscles that we tend to focus on and we begin to rejuvenate and renovate fascia, joints tendons and ligaments - total body nourishment so great practice for total tissue care and recovery from races and injury.

3. In yin the emphasis is on slowing down and feeling more.

4. It’s a yoga practice that’s great for those “rest days” (But it’s still different to restorative yoga in that there’s an energetic intention to each form beyond total surrender and rest).

Here is a practice I sequenced with heavy post training legs in mind….

Things to bear in mind as you go:

Throughout this sequence all a steady normal nasal breath to support you - perhaps an occasional sigh aids to release any holding in the body.

Do not push towards your deepest experience of the forms - easy slowly in and out and pause somewhere that feels “interesting”.

This is not a practice of total regimented stillness - nothing living is still. But explore gently and very unhurried.

Do the asymmetric postures on both sides.

Waterfall - 2 minutes.

Folding from the hips, knees slightly bent, pour your spine forwards and towards the floor

Owl - 4 minutes

Soften your seat onto a cushion, bolster or pile of books and allow yourself to fold over a supported squat.

Sphinx - 3 minutes

Lay out on your belly, lengthen you legs out behind you. Elbows underneath shoulders, forearms out infant and find a long spine and a sense of the hands drawing length through the bodies they draw energy forwards.

Caterpillar - 4 minutes

Seated on the floor, legs outstretched, find a fold forwards towards (not necessarily to!) your feet, spine long. Perhaps there’s a rolled up blanket or bolster under the knees or a cushion that supports your forehead.

Half butterfly - 3 minutes

Bending one knee so the foot comes to the opposite inner thigh and the knee turns out , find a fold towards the foot of the outstretched leg. You may choose to support with a blanket under either or both of the knees, and a block under the bottom.

Twisted Deer - 4 minutes

from the half butterfly extend the straight leg behind you and explore where it wants to lie.perhaps finding a twist (or not) in the torso too.

Swan - 5 minutes

From all fours, drawn your knee behind the hand of the same side and the ankle behind the other - let your leg land at the degree it lands at - no need to draw the foot forwards. Option to bring in support under hips. Stay up on the hands rather than folding forwards to open up the front of the body more.

Dragon - 4 minutes

I would recommend practocing this with some support underneath the shin of the extended leg - it brings a little “something something” else for you to explore.

Think length through the whole body - crown of head to heel and again allow yourself to move around a little and explore the sesnsations your body offers up

Happy run tings xxx