September Fitness Challenge: Strength & Serenity

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While the big kids home this summer, I dropped the ball on my fitness challenges.  But since September is National Yoga Month, now is the perfect time to bring back my monthly challenges.

Yoga is such a beneficial tool for runners, but it’s often too easy to forget to make it a part of our regular training program.  Yoga helps strengthen and lengthen muscle groups and can minimize chances of injury.  With the aid of yoga, runners can increase core strength and improve overall performance.  Adding yoga to a rest day following a long run will help with recovery.

So for the month of September, join me in September’s Strength and Serenity Challenge.  I’ve created the following infographic to illustrate some of the very best yoga positions specifically for runners.

Begin in Mountain Pose and slowly move into the first position, Warrior Pose 1.  Hold each position for 30 seconds.  Take deep cleansing breaths and exhale as you move through the positions.  Repeat the entire set for a total of three times.  Then, begin the entire set again starting with your left leg.

Do these Steps to Strength and Serenity on a rest day or do it post-run.  It doesn’t matter.  Just be like a running shoe and just do it.

Another way to join the yoga movement for National Yoga Month is by signing up for a week’s worth of free trial classes.  No matter when you do this set or any other form of yoga, be sure to share it with me on Twitter with the hashtags #strength and #yoga.

Also, during the month of September, consider joining the plank-a-day revolution.  Between a plank-a-day and some yoga, the results will only make you stronger.

Namaste.

Denise Mestanza-Taylor+

About the author

Denise
From start to finish, Denise is Run DMT, a Tampa Bay homeschooling mom on the run trying to maintain an easy pace through it all between races and raising three beautiful, brilliant adultish kids (ages 23, 19, 14). In 2007, I discovered a passion for running and in February 2015, I completed my tenth marathon. I continue to train for a variety of races and even host annual 5K. In 2023, I became a certified group fitness instructor and teach P.E. in my homeschool co-op.

6 comments

  1. Pingback: September Fitness Challenge: Strength & Serenity - deniseisrundmt - SE Ambassadors - VZW Monitor
  3. rgandee says:

    I have been doing yoga at least 4 times a week (1/2 hour) for a year and have definitely seen improvements in my running because of it (among other things). I am WAY more flexible than I used to be and I can do it in the midst of craziness and still be calmed by it.

  4. Laura @ Mommy Run Fast says:

    Great yoga tips for runners! I always struggle to find the time for an hour long yoga class, but you’re so right that we can benefit from a few of these moves in much less time… no excuses! Thanks for the challenge and reminder.

  6. Pingback: December Fitness Challenge: The Gift of Fitness | Run DMT

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