Yoga for Runners

Begins June 30th, 2010 Wed, 6:00-7:15pm with Tanya Namad

6 Sessions $150
Drop in for $30

1629 York Ave. @ 86th Street

Starting this summer! The perfect opportunity to add cross-training to your fitness plan: building strength, endurance, and stamina for the summer and fall running season! The weekly 75 minute class will cover a full spectrum of yoga styles along with an aerobic vinyasa flow, making it perfect for people of all levels of practice. Whether this will be your introduction to yoga or you’re already an expert, this exciting class will meet your needs and teach you how to fit yoga into your training schedule.

The workshop will include elements of stretching, runner specific strength building, and core-hardening Pilates moves.

How yoga helps running: "In a sense, my running is sort of an extension of the yoga class. Through the deep breathing and quieting of the mind we learn in class, I can get into that moving meditation when I run."

How running helps yoga: "Endurance is never an issue for me in my yoga classes, so if we have to hold some particularly difficult pose for a long time, it's not a problem, and I'm certain that that's due in a large part from my running. From a strength point of view, running has given me strong legs, which is enormously helpful for some of the standing poses."

Doing yoga during your marathon doesn't involve Sun Salutes while sandwiched between thousands of racers or Downward Dogging it to the finish line. It's about applying little tricks you've learned on the mat, like using form principles of an asana and practicing mindfulness exercises at the mile-markers. Doing so will keep you injury free and running at your peak.

"When you apply the holistic philosophy of yoga to running you really change running from a sport to a practice," says Danny Dreyer, author of ChiRunning. "Many people run with a mind-over-body mentality-they will get to the finish no matter how, but true mind-body work is working with your mind and body as a team." Taking your yoga practice from your 2x6-foot yoga mat to the 26.2-mile course can help you find this mind-body synergy, and ensures you'll recover easily.

The tips learned will keep the blood flowing to all of your muscles and ensure you have textbook posture, which protects your joints (by relieving compression) despite hours of pounding the pavement. They will also improve your form, boost endurance, and most importantly, take your mental game to a new level to help you finish strong and ready for your next race.

Call (212) 717 9642 (YOGA) for more information or to reserve a space in class.