Do you want to learn more about the different aspects of yoga and utilise these tools to help you become a better runner?  

When most of us think of yoga we think of the physical postures (asana), which are usually practiced as part of a structured yoga class.  However, the physical aspect is only one small component of yoga.  If we only focus on this aspect we are missing out on the wider benefits of yoga in our running and in our lives.

Back to the Beginning...

The ancestors of mankind developed the ability to run for long distances about 2.6 million years ago, probably in order to hunt animals. 
The origins of yoga can be traced back to northern India around 5,000 years ago, as people sought to unite the power of the body, mind and soul.

A Personal Perspective....

In the year 2000 AD I started running.
I did so because I wanted to get fit and a friend told me how great it would be to run a marathon.
Nine months later I ran the London Marathon.
After the marathon I stopped running because I had injured my knee.
After a short time I started running again because there was “something about running” that I wanted to keep experiencing.
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In the year 2005 AD I started yoga.
I did so because I was pregnant and my midwife told me yoga would help me during the labour.
Six months later I had a healthy baby boy.
After the birth I stopped yoga because I was too busy looking after the baby.
After a short time I started yoga again because there was “something about yoga” that I wanted to keep experiencing

Philosophy

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Just as yoga philosophy is defined by Patanjali’s Sutras, so there are various philosophical approaches to running training.  One of the most well known of these is the “Lydiard Pyramid” developed by Arthur Lydiard. 
  • Aerobic - Long, slow distance running to build an aerobic base.
  • Strength - Hill training at a steady pace to help build strength.
  • Speed - Interval training where the pace of the workouts increases to build speed.
  • Peak -Race specific speed training followed by tapering or the race itself.
Each of these aspects contributes to our overall speed, strength and endurance to enhance our running.
The Yoga Sutra’s, which were written by Patanjali around 400 AD, outline eight components of yoga, as follows:
  1. Our attitudes toward our environment (yama)
  2. Our attitudes toward ourselves (niyama)
  3. Physical exercises (asana)
  4. Breathing exercises (pranayama)
  5. Sensory withdrawal (pratyahara)
  6. Concentration (dharana)
  7. Meditation (dhyana)
  8. Enlightenment (samadhi)
The first four components relate to how we move through the world and the final four focus on our internal experience.  Each component holistically balances and strengthens the others with the aim of harmonising the body, mind and spirit. ​

PERSONAL RUNYOGA COACHING

The eight weeks of Personal RunYoga Coaching are structured so that I can learn about 
Prior to our first 90-minute class you will complete a questionnaire which will help identify the key challenges you are facing and how these are affecting your running.  
  1. During our first 60-minute meeting we will review the outcome from the questionnaire to allow the remainder of