A Day in the Life of a Running Yogi: Balancing Movement and Stillness
Some days we run a marathon first thing in the morning and other days we hang out in pajamas until late afternoon. Such is life, and it's perfectly fine! Not every day unfolds according to a preset script, which, in my view, adds to the beauty of life. Constant change is a fundamental part of our existence, and we humans possess the remarkable ability to adapt and savor a myriad of possibilities—if we choose to. By understanding what truly matters to us, we can always find ways to incorporate the essentials into our days.
Let me take you through a glimpse of a typical day in my life: Recently I spent the morning and early afternoon deeply engaged in work and study at my computer, breaking the monotony only for essential household chores like laundry and preparing lunch. Since prolonged sitting isn't great for our health, these necessary interruptions became opportunities for movement. I particularly savored the moments spent hanging laundry outside, soaking up the natural light and fresh air, rejuvenating myself before the day progressed.
At 3:15 PM, I shut down my computer and transitioned from my desk chair to my yoga mat. Still in my pajama pants, I felt sluggish and uninspired. Yet, there's something magical about a yoga mat; it always manages to ignite a flow of energy. As soon as the feet touch the mat something shifts. It’s as if the touch of the feet on the yoga mat would immediately plug me into a different state of mind and level of awareness. I just start moving in my own bubble that floats in the present moment while the world around me continues moving on.
The doorbell rang at 4:20 PM, abruptly pulling me back to reality. I rolled off the mat, leaving my tranquil space, to greet my daughter who arrived home bubbling with excitement. She had found her scooter, which had been stolen weeks earlier, abandoned near a bush on her walk back from school. Her happiness was infectious. Soon after, my son arrived with a friend, followed by two of my daughter's friends. Suddenly, the house was alive with the chatter of hungry children, signaling an end to my yoga session and time to prepare snacks.
Despite the cloudy and brisk weather, I felt a strong urge to run. With my husband handling the snack duties, I switched from pajamas to running gear and embarked on a brisk 5k. My recent participation in two 10k races had noticeably improved my running performance, pushing me beyond my comfort zones and fostering physical and mental growth. As they say, growth occurs outside our comfort zones. Running through the streets of Bellinzona, I reveled in the newfound lightness in my step and the liberating feeling of motion.
Balancing Activity and Recovery
Adho Mukha Shvanasana, or Downward-Facing Dog, is a great yoga pose for runners as it stretches the hamstrings, calves, and arches of the feet—areas often tight from running. This pose also strengthens the shoulders, arms, and back, enhancing overall body alignment and posture. Being an inversion, it enhances circulation, aiding muscle recovery and reducing inflammation. Regular practice can increase flexibility and help in preventing running injuries, making it an essential part of a runner's recovery routine.
Charlotte Watts once said, "Dynamism—be it yoga or a sport like running—without the polarity of softness can wear out our elasticity and leave us taut, brittle, and prone to injury." This statement resonates deeply with me as a yogi who also cherishes running. I've realized over the years that our bodies constantly seek balance—craving both rest and activity, calm and exertion.
Running offers me cherished me-time, a precious escape into nature that recharges my energy and grants a refreshing perspective. Yoga, on the other hand, provides the perfect counterbalance. It enhances recovery, particularly after running, which is a repetitive and high-impact activity. Yoga soothes tight muscles, boosts circulation, enhances lung capacity, and shifts the body from sympathetic dominance (often heightened during running) to a parasympathetic state, promoting deep recovery and improving overall well-being.
Indeed, the practice of yoga after running supports the body in returning to a state of homeostasis. Gentle movements, stretching, and myofascial release not only reset muscle length but also downregulate the nervous system, aiding in tissue recovery and fostering quality sleep.
By embracing both yoga and running, I nurture a harmonious relationship between body and mind, each activity enriching the other and providing exactly what is needed for holistic health.
