Yoga

RubyK

What are others experiences of doing yoga to help with injury prevention? I went to my first class yesterday (hatha beginners) and I was really surprised at how better/looser my troublesome right hip/flexor felt straight after the class.

Is taking one class a week enough, or would two be better? Do you include the poses in your stretching routine after a run? There seems to be a lot of different types of yoga, which do you do/find the best?

RICHIE-RICH

I do yoga twice a week. I don't know if it prevents injury, but certainly is a good stretch, and can't harm you, and has huge benefits. Apart from being flexible, it helps clear the mind, and realign the body.
I think that it helps keep your muscles stretched, and there's nothing like a yoga class the day after a LSR to really give a good ould stretch.

I know of some of the yoga class members who are regular runners (marathons and halfs every month), and they say that the yoga really helps them stay injury free. Another person ran her first marathon, and had little/no pain the next day. She puts it down to yoga, and the stretchy muscles!

There are multiple types and styles of yoga, some are gentle and soft, others are quite physical and energetic.
You should try different ones to see which style best suits you.
I do a vinyasa style which is dynamic. Depending on the class level, it can be a really good all over body workout.

If you need any advice on styles or methods, PM me and I'll do my best to help.
(DISCLAIMER: my wife is a yoga instructor -I'll be asking her!)

Sandwell

My wife is a Hatha instructor so I was lucky enough to learn from her. In my experience, I'd recommend doing it as often as possible for the first couple of months, until the poses become like second nature. After that, you can do it as frequently or as infrequently as you like but you'll still remember the routines when you come back to it.

I'd highly recommend it. Since I've started doing yoga three years ago I've had no real injuries and I've learned that certain positions help to relieve running related tightness and stiffness. For example, I find the spinal twist pose is great for IT band tightness. I don't do proper yoga - breathing, meditation, asanas, relaxation etc. - as often as I'd like, but I've integrated certain poses into my post-run stretches and if I'm feeling particularly stiff I find a full yoga session always helps.

As for the different types, they're all good but I'd be highly sceptical of some of the newer branded yoga styles such as Bikram. They've commercialised what is supposed to be a very pure, simple activity. As I understand it, most yoga styles originally derive from hatha yoga so I'd say it's as good a place to start as any. I've done a bit of Vinyasa as well and found it good too. It's a more energetic style with faster transitions between poses. Hatha is more relaxed. Like most things, a good instrutor is key, regardless of what style you choose.

RubyK

Thanks guys for your replies, sounds like you both benefit a lot from yoga.

One more question - is vinyasa also known as flow yoga, or is that different again?

Sandwell

RubyK wrote: »

Thanks guys for your replies, sounds like you both benefit a lot from yoga.

One more question - is vinyasa also known as flow yoga, or is that different again?

I believe so but I'm no expert.

RICHIE-RICH

RubyK wrote: »

Thanks guys for your replies, sounds like you both benefit a lot from yoga.

One more question - is vinyasa also known as flow yoga, or is that different again?

Yes. Vinyasa flow .
You "flow" through the poses by doing vinyasas, which are a series of moves/poses to gt you from standing to the mat, and vice-versa.
Depending on the instructor, and level of class, the flow can be quite quick (as in very little rest between poses) and dynamic and you can get a good workout.