The Runner's Yoga Book: A Balanced Approach to Fitness

Working with an injury. If you sustain an injury, continue doing poses that do not affect the injured area. When you have an injury, consult with your physician before stretching the injured area.

FINGERS AND TOES ENTWINED

the feet face directly forward, the toes are relaxed and spread wide, the weight is distributed evenly between the outer and inner edges of the feet, and lifted arches shape the feet and support the body.

In general, muscles are designed to move the body and bones are designed to support the body. When bones are stacked up correctly—like building blocks—they are in balance with gravity, or aligned. The spine is in alignment when it has four long, gentle curves; the neck and lower back have concave curves, the tailbone area and rib cage area have con

Stiff muscles deprive the body of optimum health by • Inhibiting the movement of joints • Prohibiting the full contraction of opposing muscles • Misaligning the body • Decreasing body efficiency • Increasing the possibility of injury • Deterring the maximum pumping action within each muscle

Working with imbalances. You will probably notice that one side of your body responds differently than the other. You may feel stiffer, weaker, or duller on one side. Sometimes it may be helpful to do a pose twice on your dull side because this side needs more care and attention than your more responsive side. Also, bring balance to your body and p

practice squaring the feet is to sit on the floor with the feet pressing evenly into a wall. Keep the legs straight, with the kneecaps lifted. You can lean back on your hands. Squaring your feet is easiest to accomplish when you can see them, as in the sitting poses.

While holding a pose notice where in your body you feel the most unpleasant sensation. This is where the bind is. Many people deal with this type of discomfort by tightening the surrounding muscles in an attempt to protect the area. Tightening muscles around the area of discomfort simply locks it into your body. Instead try the following: While in

If you stand on the outer edges of your feet, press down on the joints under your big toes just enough so that the tops of your feet are level. If you have collapsed arches, place your feet straight forward and turn your knees out just enough to lift the arches.