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Cari Fit

Cari Fit

Fitness Advice, Workout Tips, and Inspiration

Benefits of Yoga for Runners

If you like to jog or run, try adding some yoga each week to improve your workouts. I took up yoga about 2 years ago to help me with my running. I just heard that it was good for stretching your legs, and as a runner…I thought this would be great for my tight hamstrings. Little did I know, yoga is about much more than stretching. It teaches you how to breathe, how to take you mind of your body and yes, how to stretch out those muscles properly. During a basic vinyasa flow or ashtanga class (what I teach) you go through a series of poses/flows in a sequence. If you have taken this type of yoga before (it’s the most popular) then you have probably been instructed when to breathe by the instructor. She or he will say “inhale as you place you foot here” or “exhale to down dog”. As you take more and more yoga classes, the breathing will become second nature. This is similar to running. Many beginning runners struggle with breathing and thus, they are not able to reach their full potential either with speed or distance. Breathing fuels your body with oxygen and gives your muscles the life and energy they need to get you through the run. Yoga is also great for lengthening your muscles and improving your flexibility. So often runners get tight hip flexors, hamstrings and quads. About 80% of yoga poses will stretch or flex one or more of these areas. “Pigeon” pose is my favorite pose for runners. Check it out Here

*Tip: To stretch out your quads, reach back with your left hand and grab your left foot (or right hand to right foot if right leg is back). Gently bring the left foot towards your hips and this will stretch out your left quad. Repeat this position on the other side:

Don’t be intimidated by yoga. If you’ve never tried a class before, look for a gym or yoga studio that offers beginner or “all-levels” type classes. I always get students with a wide range of experience levels in my classes and most likely, there will be someone in the class with less experience and/or flexibility than you. Just make sure not to push yourself too hard in any position/pose. Yoga should never be painful!

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About Me

About Me
Cari Shoemate

Hi! I'm Cari! I'm a fitness star turned Mom of 3 who lives in Houston, TX. Getting fit and healthy is a journey and one I understand well. After graduating from college I worked in a corporate setting for many years and gained a lot of weight and had an unhealthy lifestyle. Finally, after I had enough - I decided to regain my healthy lifestyle that I had in college by fitting in workouts and eating healthier. Eventually, I left my corporate job to become a full-time personal trainer and group fitness instructor. I also created Bombshell Bootcamp over 10 years ago and it has become one of Houston's top bootcamps! My passion then turned into greater opportunities to write workouts for national magazines, appear on tv doing workouts and speaking about healthy and fitness, making fitness DVD's and working with many celebrities. Fast forward a few years....and then I had my first baby! I'm now a Mom of 3 little ones and try to incorporate healthy living and exercise in our family's lives. Not only do I still blog about workouts and fitness, but I have shifted some to include family fitness, family travel, fashion, health/beauty and general lifestyle.

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