Awareness translates to daily workouts, too. You learn through the
practice of yoga that each day is distinct, much like each run. Your energy
levels fluctuate daily, even hourly, thus it's important to have a sense of
your reserves. The calmness you glean from yoga practice allows you to manage
and economize your energy. You can learn to intuit where you are on a given day
and what resources you have to give. Therefore, you don't power drive through
every workout mindlessly but rather respect your body's limitations.
You can, however, maximize those varying energy levels by focusing on
another no kinetic aspect of yoga: relaxation. When you're able to bring your
body into a state of repose, you become more effective at using and conserving
strength. If you're in a contracted state—tight muscles, limited range of
motion, chronic pain—your body requires more energy for all activities, running
included. Relaxation allows you to burn energy at a more efficient level. The
resulting increased vigor means a greater freedom of movement and ultimately,
more enjoyment of all your physical activities.
Tension is the athlete's downfall, and breath awareness is key to reducing
it. Conscious breathing and Pranayama exercises, which soothe the sympathetic
and parasympathetic nervous systems and relax the entire body, can be of great
benefit to runners.
Yoga retreats can
help athletes to understand what their body requires and lead a healthy life.
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