age is really just a number

This was originally published as a series in Dr. Crane’s running blog.

Dr. Shyla Arya, from Foot and Ankle Associates of North Texas in Grapevine and Keller, TX, was happy to mentor Dr. Crane in her yoga practice and to share her expertise with Dr. Crane’s running peeps.

Yoga is a practice that combines stretching, strengthening, proprioception and balance. It is one of the most well-rounded activities you can do to augment your training schedules. It will challenge you by showing you the weak and tight places on your body, all of which are roadblocks to efficient gait on your runs. 

Yoga doesn’t mean complicated poses and putting your legs behind your head, it simply means union. Bringing together in union the essentials of balanced legs, core, chest, arms, and breath to make you the most efficient athlete possible. 

In Dr. Arya’s yoga for runners classes we always focus on hips, quads, hamstrings, calves, and of course…feet…your rooting mechanisms. If you’ve suffered from plantar fasciitis, IT band syndrome, Achilles Tendonitis, ankle sprains—you need yoga! 

Check out our #1 pose for runners video below and then scroll down for more!. And join us for a free class Monday night at the pines across from Keller Town Hall for outdoors runner’s yoga! See Facebook for dates and times. And of course if you have any lower extremity pain-come see us! 

In part one of Yoga for Runners: Dr. Arya and Dr. Crane from FAANT demonstrate a bridge pose. This is great for runners who sit hunched over a computer all day. It benefits the rectus abdominus, hips, shoulders, hamstrings and adductors.

In Part Two of Yoga for Runners: Dr. Shyla Arya assists Dr. Marybeth Crane from FAANT demonstrate the Downward Facing Dog Pose. This is great for runners to stretch your hamstrings and calves; as well as elongate the spine, strengthen and open your chest and strengthen your arms.

In Part Three of Yoga for Runners: Dr. Shyla Arya, from Foot and Ankle Associates of North Texas, helps Dr. Crane demonstrate the seated forward fold. This is a great pose for runners because it gives an intense stretch of your shoulders, back, hamstrings and calves.

In part Four of Yoga for Runners: Dr. Shyla Arya and Dr. Marybeth Crane from Foot and Ankle Associates of North Texas in Grapevine and Keller Texas demonstrate the Seated Reclined Pigeon pose. This is a great stretch for runners with tight hips. It really gives you an intense deep stretch of the hip flexors.

In Part Five of Yoga for Runners #5: Half Lord of the Fishes Pose:  Dr. Shyla Arya and Dr. Marybeth Crane, from Foot and Ankle Associates of North Texas, demonstrate a great spine twist for runners that opens up the chest, stretches the neck, shoulders, and hips as well as energizing the spine.

I hope you have learned just a few new poses that will help you keep healthy on the run! Let me know if you enjoyed this series. Please comment below.