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Introductory Yoga Program for Runners By: Lindsay Knazan, BSc, RYT
This is a program you can do before or after a run, or at the start or end of your day. It should take approximately 30 minutes,
depending on how quickly you move through the poses.
Start sitting cross legged or laying down and take a few moments to quiet yourself. Listen in to your breath, and notice where in your
body the breath is moving (belly, ribs, chest). Is the breath deep or shallow? Start to lengthen your exhales, but without forcing or
pushing the breath. Let your focus be on not how deep the breath is, but instead, how smooth your inhale is with your exhale. Let
the mind relax, bring your awareness to your body and focus on your breathing. When your mind drifts, just gently draw it back to
the breath repeatedly as you practice the postures below.
Cat/Cow Flow
Come onto all 4’s. Line up the wrists underneath the shoulders, and the knees underneath the hips. Keep a slight bend in the elbows
and a neutral curve to the spine.
Cow Flow‐As you inhale, let your chest and navel drop towards the floor, and pull the shoulder blades together on the back. Engage through your pelvic floor gently, and feel the back extend and arch softly as you lift the chin and look up.
Cat flow‐As you exhale, draw your belly in and up, round your spine and take your chin towards your chest. Feel your shoulder blades pulling apart on your back and stretch the mid back up between the blades. Repeat this flow 10‐15 times, moving slowly with the breath.
Downward Facing Dog
From all 4’s, tuck your toes underneath you and gently press up through the hands and feet into Downward Dog pose. Allow your
hands to be at least shoulder width apart, with lots of effort in the fingertips, especially the thumbs and inner edge of the palms. Try
not to lock the elbows, and actively work the shoulder blades down your back towards your hips. Bent knees here is just fine, and
slowly over time you can work to widen the backs of the knees and the heels will draw towards the floor. The key is to stay long
through the spine and lifted through the tailbone as you lengthen through the backs of the legs. Be patient with this pose, it takes
time to feel comfortable here. Stay for 3‐5 breaths and repeat the flow of cat cow and downward dog 2‐3 times.
Heels up and knees bent Heels down, knees wide, and legs straight in time
Progress towards
Crescent lunge, 2 Variations
From downward dog, step the right leg forward into a lunge (can come to this from standing as well if preferred). Take your hands to
your hips and feel the hip bones parallel across the front of the body. Bend the back knee as needed to accommodate this and feel a
gentle stretch through the front hip and thigh of the extended back leg, as well as the work in the front quadriceps and glut. Try to
keep the weight distribution even between the right foot and left.
TC10K: Yoga for Runners 2012
Try straightening and bending the back leg, and notice how this changes the stretch and how you feel in the hips and low back with
the different variations. Repeat these lunges with downward dog in between sides. Try doing 3 repetitions and work up to 5.
Variation 1: Variation 2:
Fierce Pose
Stand with feet hip distance apart, 2nd toes in line with the centre of your ankle. Sit your hips back toward the floor as though you were sitting in a chair, and let the chest rise up in the opposite direction. Stretch the arms in front and keep the shoulder soft as you work into the inner thighs and the gluts/hamstrings. You can gently pulse here as you breathe, and try not to over‐arch your back in this pose. Repeat 2‐5 times, pulsing for 5 breaths each time.
Standing Forward Bend
Feet hip distance apart, reach for your shins, ankles or big toes and let the hamstrings release. You may need to bend your knees a lot in this pose to accommodate tight hamstrings, as this will protect and release the low back. Slowly over time you can work to straight legs with a neutral spine, and an engaged core.
Triangle
Begin standing and then step the feet about 3 feet apart. Turn the right foot out 90 degrees and left foot
is parallel to the front of your mat. Let your right heel line up with the arch of your left foot. Exhale and
with firm thighs and straight legs, bend from the hips and move your torso toward your right leg. Let your
right hand rest softly on the left shin or ankle, and stretch the left arm up and equally stretch through top
and bottom ribs. Move shoulder blades down the back and gaze up at left hand or look straight ahead.
Hold for 8 breaths and then lift up with core strong, and pivot feet to switch sides.
Seated Cradle Seated Pigeon
Sit tall and bring the right leg in and cradle the hands, one on the knee and one on the foot/ankle. You can progress to both arms
hooking underneath the calf, or hook around the knee and ankle as in the picture here. Be patient with this, and breathe.
To progress to seated pigeon, cross the right ankle over the left thigh, clearing the right ankle bone past the opposite knee. Keep the
right foot flexed to protect the knee joint, and slowly start to move your hips toward the left heel.
NOTE: There should be NO pain in the knee with these movements, or you have gone too far. Back off a little and be gentle with
your body; and keep practicing‐it will come!
TC10K: Yoga for Runners 2012
Windshield Wipers Seated Forward Bend
Sit tall with the knees bent and feet on the floor, and support yourself with your hands behind you. Begin to bring the legs over to
one side, and then slowly take them over to the opposite side, ‘windshield wiping’ the legs back and forth. Do this slowly, quickly,
with knees touching or apart. Enjoy the release of the weight of the legs as you breathe.
To move into seated forward bend, sit tall with legs out in front. See directions for standing forward bend above as this pose is the
same while seated. Bend knees as needed and keep the core engaged.
Hero Pose to Butterfly
For Hero: Sit onto the heels to start with knees close together. Roll thighs outwards and lean slightly forward; use your thumbs to
roll the flesh of your calves out as well and then gently sit back down between the ankles. Lift your chest and lengthen through your
torso and spine as you reach your hands behind you to stretch. Be careful with this one, and if the knees feel pain here, just place a
small towel or blanket behind the knee joint before coming into the pose. If pain persists, then leave this pose out. To come out,
lean back onto hands and release one leg at a time.
For Butterfly: Sit up straight and bend the knees, bringing the soles of the feet together and in toward the groin. Roll your thighs
open, work your knees apart and move the low belly and spine inward and upwards. Flutter the legs and then soften and hold for 5
breaths.
TC10K: Yoga for Runners 2012
Supine Spinal Twist
Lie back and bend your knees towards your chest. Take your arms out wide to a T. As you exhale, let the legs fall over to one side, making sure that the legs are able to release as you touch them to the floor. Place a block or blanket between/under the knees as needed for support. Enjoy the stretch of the shoulders and chest, and the release of the spine as you hold for 8 breaths‐ then switch sides.
Hamstring Stretch Flex and Point toe
Laying on your back, take your right knee to your chest. Lift your right leg and press your heel toward
the ceiling, as you grab onto the hamstring or calf. Gently relax your shoulders and head back as you draw the leg in, pushing up through the heel to stretch the hamstring. Breathe as you alternate flexing and pointing the toe. Hold for 8 breaths and then switch sides.
Reverse Cow Face
Laying on your back, take your right leg and cross it over your left leg, sealing off any space
between the thighs. See if you can curl up and grab onto the ankles or the feet/toes, and gently
begin to pull the feet wide apart. You should feel a great stretch on this one in the gluts and NO
pain in the knees. Breathe there for 8 breaths and then switch sides.
Little Bridge
Start laying on your back, feet hip distance apart and ankles underneath the knees. Gently begin
to lift your hips up off the floor and draw them up with the use of your legs. Hold at the top and
try to release your gluts here as you maintain the lift in the chest and hips using the strength of
the core, feet and legs. Hold for 8 breaths and then release and rest. Repeat 3 times.
Savasana (Sha‐Va‐Sa‐Na, aka final relaxation)
Lay down with your palms to the sky, and your feet open and soft. Close your eyes and relax your
breath once again, noticing the movement of breath in the belly. Relax your face and jaw and
breathe a few deep breaths out through the mouth. Settle in to rest and empty all the tension
out of the body as you focus on relaxations of each part of your being; heart, mind and body.
Stay for at least 5 minutes and then come up slowly.
Creator: Lindsay Knazan, BSc, RYT Photos: Ari Knazan & Lindsay Knazan www.fiercestudio.ca