< 60 Mins
Asana based Practice to Complement Running Part 5: Arching Back for Increasing Stamina and Improving Breath
If you are a runner, asanas have the potential to do a lot more than ‘stretching’. The sessions in this Short Course offer carefully chosen options that can help the runner target specific areas of the body, work with actions/ positions that are not adequately covered by running, as well as bringing strength and flexibility to those areas that are continuously working while running.
Back arches are one of the most potent (also the most advanced) category of asanas. If you are a runner, you will find that they might become the most important supports for your running - improving breath, increasing stamina, bringing mental alertness. In this sessions, we have tried to present supported back arches in way that is creative and playful, rather than technical and complicated. We recommend doing this session in continuation of part4 of this Short Course.
This session is part of the Short Course Asana Based Practice to Complement Running (Short Course in 8 Parts). We recommend working with all the sessions in the course to get an understanding of the subject.
Duration: 40 mins.
Props needed: any regular chair, access to a wall, be creative to use surfaces around you over which you can arch back
Tag words: back arches with support back stiffness back thighs dorsal thoracic eka pada rajakapotasana with support hamstrings hip extension urdhva dhanurasana with support
Focus: Asanas can be versatile ‘supporting’ practices to all other life endeavours. If you are a runner, asanas have the potential to do a lot more than ‘stretching’. The sessions in this Short Course offer carefully chosen options that can help the runner target specific areas of the body, work with actions/ positions that are not adequately covered by running, as well as bringing strength and flexibility to those areas that are continuously working while running. The sessions offer options for increasing strength and flexibility, injury prevention, resting and recovery, not just on a physical level, but at the level of the mind and the breath. These sessions aim to maintain the rigour (and therefore, the effectiveness) of Iyengar Yoga, but can be attempted by any healthy non-asana practitioner.
Back arches are one of the most potent (also the most advanced) category of asanas. If you are a runner, you will find that they might become the most important supports for your running – improving breath, increasing stamina, bringing mental alertness. In this sessions, we have tried to present supported back arches in way that is creative and playful, rather than technical and complicated. We recommend doing this session in continuation of part4 of this Short Course
Duration: 40 mins.
Props needed: any regular chair, access to a wall, be creative to use surfaces around you over which you can arch back
Note:
- We are assuming a general level of physical fitness in these sessions – in the interest of keeping the sessions focussed, we do not discuss adaptations for injuries/ accidents/ any other special conditions
