6 Yoga Poses to Improve Your Running

Strung together, these six yoga poses form a routine that builds the abdominals, back, quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, and upper body while also improving balance.

Targeting these areas will give you a strong foundation—which means more power, less chance of injury. Two days a week, cut your runs just a mile short to fit in this 10-minute sequence.

Do the first three poses twice (one side, then the other). Then do the second three poses in the same manner.

You can also try these eight tips from a master yoga teacher to help make your practice flawless.

Chair

Builds: core, legs, glutes, arms

With your feet, knees, thighs touching, sit into a squat. Extend your arms.

Twisting Chair

Builds: core, legs, glutes, arms

While in chair, press your palms together, and rotate to the right.

Twisting Lunge

Builds: core, legs, glutes, arms

Step your left foot back while holding the twist. Keep your knee over your ankle.

Warrior III

Builds: balance and overall strength

Balance on your left foot. Fold forward, lifting your right leg. Extend your arms.

Arrow Lunge

Builds: core, legs, glutes, arms

Step your right leg back into a lunge, keeping arms extended.

Extended-Leg Balance

Builds: posture, balance, legs

Swing your right leg up and hold it extended in front of you.

Active logoGain flexibility and strength at a yoga class.


Sage Rountree, author of The Athlete's Guide to Yoga, developed this routine. Watch her demonstrate it at runnerworld.com/bodyshop. You can also order her strength plan (designed to be paired with marathon training) at runnersworld.com/trainingplans.

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