Posted in Team Finish Line.
A Different Kind of Yoga for Runners
Another yoga for runners program? Tune in, this one is different.
- Your yoga teacher is an avid distance runner. I’ve run 9 marathons and over 30 half-marathons over the past 14 years.
- Your yoga teacher has spent 6 years specializing in teaching yoga for athletes and completing certifications alongside Finish Line Physical Therapy’s PTs that focus on functional, 3-dimensional movement and body alignment through breath.
- You will move with purpose: this class focuses HOW yoga postures are practiced rather than WHAT yoga postures are practiced.
I’ve been running and racing long distances for over 14 years and have developed (what seemed at the time devastating) running injuries. After being sidelined too many times, I sought out physical therapy treatment and began implementing strength training for running. In addition to treating my injuries, physical therapists have mentored me step-by-step to create a safe and effective yoga practice for other athletes at the clinic. Believe it or not, the traditional alignment of certain yoga postures may discourage efficient running form and lead to injuries. For instance, I modify postures and sequences to ensure your core and posterior hip are engaged so that you do not over-use your hip-flexors and other front-of-the-leg muscles, like your quads (common overuse problem leading to injury & performance prevention in runners).
I have dedicated the last 6 years to strengthening my teaching skills and knowledge of the human body. I’ve completed advanced level yoga training, taught over 1,000 students in over 1,000 hours of yoga classes, completed a fellowship of applied functional science and gained a NYS license in massage therapy. What does all of that mean for you? It means I’ve learned to teach a challenging, creative + effective class for runners and athletes to build both strength and mobility to perform better.
What else makes the SCULPT, Strength by Yoga class different? It’s not WHAT postures and sequences we practice, but rather HOW we practice the postures and HOW we transition from one posture to the next. We have a specific way of aligning each posture, then moving our bones to engage the muscle groups we use while running. We add external weight to the yoga postures and sequences to build additional strength. With a consistent practice over a four- to six-week period, students begin to experience real results such as feeling stronger and faster during runs with improved form. These benefits come directly from our class structure that is based on mirroring running biomechanics.
Want to have your best race season ever? Join me every Monday and Wednesday at 7:15pm at THE FOUNDRY powered by Finish Line PT for Strength by Yoga (SCULPT). I put my heart into every class and hope to meet you.
Download the app and your first class is free – see you soon!
