I'm pretty new to RA so I thought I'd ask you folks what might seem like a crazy question. Can anyone recommend pre and post run yoga poses? I'd probably use them because I don't seem to stretch enough and my legs get tired, or maybe it's me hitting the 55 mark! Any info is appreciated! Or should I just do yoga on a non running day? Is that considered cross training or a day off? Thank you.

Hi Midpacker. I don't do any yoga pre-run (I don't stretch before runs either) but post-runs my typical "stretching" includes downward dog poses, lunges, cobra pose -- sort of a modified sun salutation. These are pretty basic poses you can find on any website or book about yoga. I now run in the late afternoon and often wait until the evening to do the yoga, just for time reasons. If I'm good, I'll do some seated poses, too, and really stretch the hamstrings and back. I also do a form of inversion where I put my legs up against a wall after all of my long runs. That feels wonderful. Try it. I don't know if yoga is considered cross training or not, but I do think it's a wonderful compliment to running. I'm just starting to get back into yoga classes. For now, all I can manage is one class after my Monday evening runs. Going from that run right into an hour long class is heaven. I sleep like a log on Monday nights. Yoga in general may not help your legs feel any less "tired," (hmmm, that inversion sure helps with tired long run legs, though) but, if you're like me, it will help wth those runner-tight hamstrings and calves and also probably help prevent injuries related those areas. And, as runners we know all too well how those muscles in the body are connected...

Question for those of you who do Yoga. I've been practicing now for about 8 weeks. I can already tell a tremendous difference in my flexibility and how my back feels etc. The one thing I do not seem to be getting any better at is my balance poses though. I think when you can't quite get your heels to the floor during downward dog, or have to bend your knees some to touch the floor, no one really notices. But when you're flailing all over the room just to try to do a dancer pose, everyone notices. Can anyone give me advice on what I can do to improve my balance besides keep practicing? I've been trying to just stand on one foot sometimes when I'm standing in line etc. Will this eventually get any better or will I always look like a dork doing balance poses?

Thanks Soundrunner. I guess I'm really suprised at how much trouble I'm having with this. I do quite a few sports, like skiing, skating, etc. that require balance. How is it that I don't seem to have any? We were just doing the tree in the beginning and I seemed to be starting to get much better with that. But now she's switched over to this dancer pose and I'm just all over the place. Think next time I'm going to try to get a spot closer to the wall so I can put my hand out for balance.