Last week, I was messaging with my old friend Katy about Shed-related things. She’s a nurse in Chicago and has run two half-marathons this year. We were talking injuries. She had piriformis syndrome which is, quite literally, a pain in the ass. Her biggest advice to me was to strength train and stretch in addition to my long runs. And she suggested just what I needed for the stretching part: Yoga for Runners from iTunes!
You know I adore iTunes, but this really made for a love-fest. The download comes through Nike and features runner and yogi Kimberly Fowler leading a series of poses that are designed to focus on all the areas that can throw of runners: hamstrings, calves, quads, lower back. The video clocks in at 17:23 with 15 minutes of actual stretching.
Kimberly kind of reminds me of actress Jane Lynch (the extremely recognizable funnywoman who can be seen next week when “Glee” returns!!) so I kept expecting her to say something hysterically funny. Of course, she didn’t. That was my only disappointment though! This video is awesome. It’s calm enough to help you wind down after running, but not so much that you feel Crunchy. The poses are not really what I think of when I think of yoga. It’s mostly a series of traditional running stretches with a few yoga ones tossed in the mix. (Turns out, her press kit says, “No chanting. No granola. No Sanskirt.” Dig!) There’s no downward dog, but there is “chair pose”–or, as she says, “If you’re not flexible yet, yours may look more like a bar stool”–and “reverse pigeon.” Speaking of reverse pigeon, that is my new favorite move. I despise birds as a general rule, but it just feels soooo good!
The 15 minute length is perfect–I think of it as a mini-class. Fifteen minutes is about all I can stand when it comes to doing something that involves sitting still without talking. The short time also means that you can do it first thing in the morning, before bed, or while you’re preheating the oven for dinner. Compared to other yoga downloads/videos, I’d say it requires minimal space. And because it’s on iTunes, there’s no loading the DVD player, skipping previews, watching the warnings, waiting for the menu, etc. Seems minor, but those things drive me absolutely crazy when I’m trying to do a DVD and I’m short on time.
You can always do this video on your computer, and you never have to keep track of the DVD, which is nice if you’re a college student or traveler (or both!). However, I downloaded it to my ipod Touch and took it to the gym with me! At first I felt a little silly going into chair pose in the gym, but then I realized it’s not a big deal at all. I just find a quiet area, grab a mat, and go through the poses. And I imagine everyone at the gym says, “Oh, there goes the girl who’s so Zen,” when I walk by… The portability factor also means that I can do it in the grass after a run outside.
After finishing my workout with this video, my body felt amazing. I just felt so balanced. I also realized that stretching helps me trust my body more–when I’m stretching, I’m less likely to let my fear of being injured again hold me back.
I am not sure if it’s me being computer illiterate or the way my ipod works, but I was only able to download the audio track to my ipod. This isn’t a big deal, but it just means you should probably watch the video through once before you attempt the “to-go” version. She describes the poses well, but I think having a visual in your head is a good idea.
If you want something longer, Crunchier, or just want to change it up a little, check out YogaDownload.com. The 20 minute videos are free, and even the 60 minute class is only $5.95. Still cheaper than a yoga DVD and so nice and simple. I’ve tried these before, and even though I am not a huge yoga person, I can tell you that the downloads are good. You can do yoga for runners, yoga for back pain, or the poor girl’s Bikram (hot yoga download + a space heater).
This was seriously a great way to spend $5 (and 99 cents)! The moves are simple but not boring, and it’s a good way to get your stretching in and experience all the great benefits we talked about earlier. Even if you aren’t a runner, it still feels fantastic. Definitely a WIN.
Also, sexy flexies, don’t forget that September is National Yoga Month! You can get a free week of yoga at studios all over the country, so be sure to print out your free card.
Have a great afternoon!
.jpg)
