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

In all phases of your practice, eliminate extra effort. Activate those muscles necessary to hold the pose, but notice and release any tension in the eyes, face, neck, jaw, throat, shoulders, or stomach. These are the areas where muscles are most frequently contracted. Then watch for any other areas you may be unnecessarily contracting. Just knowing

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

Another way to bring health to the feet is to stretch them. When you exercise the feet you also involve your legs, knees, and hips. The arches of the feet are lifted by the muscles of the lower legs. Imbalance in these muscles can not only affect the arches of the feet, but influence the position of the ankles. Misalignment here necessitates a comp

Dynamic stretching is jerky and forced; yoga stretching is slow and controlled. Dynamic stretching aims for a certain degree of flexibility; yoga stretching aims for physical, mental, and spiritual balance.

The degree of flexibility achieved does not determine success in yoga. Success is measured by your inward attention to the body and mind in the pose. No matter how flexible you are, yoga is accessible to you; it’s simply a matter of being willing to feel and respond to yourself.

you aren’t even aware of your unawareness.

Hatha Yoga uses physical poses (asanas) to explore the inner structures of the body, the mind, and the spirit. It is a path, a guide, a step-by-step method that can lead you to greater self-knowledge. Each pose is a means to feel inwardly, to discover where you are strong, tight, weak, or dull. Thus, Hatha Yoga provides a framework for the experien

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

Tightened hip flexors also contribute to swayback, in which the front of the pelvis is pulled down.