Five yoga poses that will help relieve your aching knees
Knee injuries are the bane of many runners, but practising a series of simple yoga poses could help you get back on track
The knee is the most common body part that breaks down in runners, and when it does, it usually causes a temporary or permanent halt in one's running regimen. When injured, practising yoga can help you heal and avoid injury in future.
In fact, even if you do yoga only once a week, you'll notice a big difference in your running, says Alex Mazerolle, founder of Girlvana Yoga and the co-owner of Distrikt Movement in North Vancouver, Canada. Here, she demonstrates a five-pose circuit that takes just 15 minutes to complete.
"Doing this simple circuit two to three times a week would make a world of difference to your running," says 28-year-old Mazerolle, who is also a yoga teacher for the EA Sports app, Yogify.
Mazerolle says runners in her yoga classes often have tight hamstrings, shoulders, and hips and glutes. The feet, lower legs, knees, thighs, hips, lower back, core, and arms are all part of a kinetic chain. When one link isn't working properly, the consequences can be felt up or down the chain - including the knee.
Christine Felstead, author of the book Yoga for Runners (2013), says runners are often reluctant to try yoga, but can gain tremendous benefits from adding yoga to their fitness regimen.