Until a little over a year ago, I did not understand the importance of stretching and what benefits it could have on my running. I was scheduled to run New York last year, but was stricken with extreme physical pain along with disappointment and sadness when I developed tendinitis in my hip after training for a triathlon (by the way, I would gladly take marathon training over triathlon training any day). Several X-Rays and many visits to the chiropractor later, I could still barely make it up and down the stairs without pain shooting down my leg and up my back. I was in fact unable to run for over a month. That month seemed like a lifetime to me - I was lost. Running is like my best friend; always there when I need comfort, but then, I just couldn't reach it.
When I thought all hope was lost and I would be reduced to an elliptical addict forever, one of my Pilates students urged me to try Kate's Saturday morning YOGA class. "No thanks," I told her, "I've done YOGA several times before, and I really just don't have the patience for it." But, her incessant bragging about this class pushed me over the edge after a few weeks. One Saturday morning, I snuck into the back of the studio at LA Fitness not knowing what was about to hit me. In walked a tiny blond girl with her purple YOGA mat in hand. As she walked up to the front of the room and laid down her mat, I realized this must be Kate. Oh, this is going to be a breeze, I thought. She spoke softly, but fifteen minutes into her class my muscles were screaming. Although I was exhausted and drenched in sweat after that first class, I felt amazing - welcome to YOGAholics anonymous. So, I couldn't help myself - I had to go back the next week, and the next. I overheard one of the other students talking about going to the Sunday morning class. Sunday morning class??? I thought. I'm free Sundays, too. I could definitely make that class. And, the next day I went to Michelle's 8:30 class. How refreshing - very different in style, but equally as amazing. And, so it began...my weekend tradition of attending Kate's class at 11 on Saturday and Michelle's class at 8:30 on Sunday.
After a few weeks, I noticed a difference in the way I was walking. Stairs were no longer a torture chamber and I could sit for an hour without having to fidget every ten minutes to eliminate the tingling in my leg. I self-diagnosed myself - my tendinitis was healing. So, I knew that meant it was time for the next step. I hopped on the treadmill that Monday morning before work and played a game. Starting with a walk - Ok, that feels fine. Then up to a SLOW jog - Wow, I'm really doing it. And, then the real test, full speed ahead - Pain? No, really, no pain!
I was cured by this wonderful thing called YOGA. Now, I've been doing it ever since. I try to get in two classes a week, but with my heavy training on Saturdays, I've been unable to make it to Kate's class, which I do miss terribly. And, if I skip my Sunday morning class because of another commitment, my hamstrings certainly let me know that I made the wrong decision. It was indeed those tight hamstrings that inevitably led to my one month hiatus. I will never let them take over my life like that again. I am in charge here, legs, not you! You just carry me - I tell you when we go, where we go and how fast we get there.
I work so hard every Sunday morning now, standing there in warrior pose with my deep muscular tissue burning, but that tells me it's working, pulling those fibers longer. Holding downward dog, which was once like drinking battery acid for me, is now a welcome rest after a tough flow, where I release all the tension, Ahhhhh. Oh yeah, and remember the girl who couldn't touch her toes from elementary all the way through high school? Yep - I'm not that girl any more.
So, now I run until my next class. And, as a lesson to all of you runners - you are in charge, not your legs. But, you still need to treat them to a little stretching.
When I thought all hope was lost and I would be reduced to an elliptical addict forever, one of my Pilates students urged me to try Kate's Saturday morning YOGA class. "No thanks," I told her, "I've done YOGA several times before, and I really just don't have the patience for it." But, her incessant bragging about this class pushed me over the edge after a few weeks. One Saturday morning, I snuck into the back of the studio at LA Fitness not knowing what was about to hit me. In walked a tiny blond girl with her purple YOGA mat in hand. As she walked up to the front of the room and laid down her mat, I realized this must be Kate. Oh, this is going to be a breeze, I thought. She spoke softly, but fifteen minutes into her class my muscles were screaming. Although I was exhausted and drenched in sweat after that first class, I felt amazing - welcome to YOGAholics anonymous. So, I couldn't help myself - I had to go back the next week, and the next. I overheard one of the other students talking about going to the Sunday morning class. Sunday morning class??? I thought. I'm free Sundays, too. I could definitely make that class. And, the next day I went to Michelle's 8:30 class. How refreshing - very different in style, but equally as amazing. And, so it began...my weekend tradition of attending Kate's class at 11 on Saturday and Michelle's class at 8:30 on Sunday.
After a few weeks, I noticed a difference in the way I was walking. Stairs were no longer a torture chamber and I could sit for an hour without having to fidget every ten minutes to eliminate the tingling in my leg. I self-diagnosed myself - my tendinitis was healing. So, I knew that meant it was time for the next step. I hopped on the treadmill that Monday morning before work and played a game. Starting with a walk - Ok, that feels fine. Then up to a SLOW jog - Wow, I'm really doing it. And, then the real test, full speed ahead - Pain? No, really, no pain! I was cured by this wonderful thing called YOGA. Now, I've been doing it ever since. I try to get in two classes a week, but with my heavy training on Saturdays, I've been unable to make it to Kate's class, which I do miss terribly. And, if I skip my Sunday morning class because of another commitment, my hamstrings certainly let me know that I made the wrong decision. It was indeed those tight hamstrings that inevitably led to my one month hiatus. I will never let them take over my life like that again. I am in charge here, legs, not you! You just carry me - I tell you when we go, where we go and how fast we get there.
I work so hard every Sunday morning now, standing there in warrior pose with my deep muscular tissue burning, but that tells me it's working, pulling those fibers longer. Holding downward dog, which was once like drinking battery acid for me, is now a welcome rest after a tough flow, where I release all the tension, Ahhhhh. Oh yeah, and remember the girl who couldn't touch her toes from elementary all the way through high school? Yep - I'm not that girl any more.
So, now I run until my next class. And, as a lesson to all of you runners - you are in charge, not your legs. But, you still need to treat them to a little stretching.
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