We're shifting gears this week to talk yoga, but don't worry we're not steering too far off our favourite topic of running! In fact our focus this week is very much on running; we're just looking at it from the ground up. 

As seasoned runners will know, a foundation of strength and mobility, along with proper recovery is key to injury-free running and longevity in the sport. Here in Saskatoon, we're fortunate to have some excellent yoga teachers who know their stuff when it comes to integrating yoga into a runner's routine. 

Shirley Berthelet and Leanne Parsons are the founders of BreatheMoveBe. You may be familiar with these names, as many of their yoga classes have been taught in the Brainsport Community Room.

So what's yoga for runners all about? Well, in this week's Q&A we're going to speak with Leanne to learn about it!

Q&A with Leanne Parsons

Tara: Before we get into a discussion about the benefits of yoga for runners, would you mind telling readers more about yourself, and your background as a yoga teacher?  

Leanne: I'm a fitness enthusiast; I enjoy yoga, running, walking, and weight lifting. I've been doing yoga for a number of years. I started running later in life and discovered how much yoga personally complimented my running and weight lifting. I started on my 200 HR RYT yoga teacher training as a way to better understand the practice of yoga for my own benefit.   completed my 200 HR RYT with Namaskar Yoga Studio in Saskatoon. In June 2014 my business partner and I took Christine Felstead's Yoga for Runners intensive six-day teacher training in Toronto, and so began BreatheMoveBe. I'm an avid yogi and have completed several 5K, 10K, and half-marathon races.

Tara: Runners can get pretty stuck in running-mode and resist other activities, but it's important to include variety in order to stay healthy and injury free. Can you tell us more about how yoga provides balance?  

Leanne: Yoga is all about helping the body return to balance and symmetry. Yoga for runners works on strengthening the weak muscles and stretching the tight muscles specific to runners. As runners we tend to think we are generally pretty strong - and that is not incorrect. But we also have some very important stabilizing muscles that can be weaker in runners. This imbalance can affect our running form and lead to discomfort and injury. Most of us runners are aware of those tight muscles that lead to cramping and discomfort but are often unaware of the weaknesses. Yoga for runners concentrates on strengthening these stabilizing muscles and muscles that tend to be weaker in runners, as well as stretching those that normally get tight - helping us to run stronger and longer. 

Leanne (above) and Shirley are passionate about sharing their love of yoga, and all its benefits with runners. Photo supplied

Tara: What are the benefits of yoga as a recovery activity after long runs and races? 

Leanne: As we recover after long runs and races, yoga is a great low impact way of still keeping your body active. Yoga is a great means of active recovery. Yoga for runners incorporates many restorative poses into a class after a race (especially a long race) -helping your muscles to relax and stretch with support of props. As a runner it's important to keep those hips and hamstrings, calves, and shoulders/chest working effectively helping us to run pain-free and more efficiently.

Mentally yoga can be a real boost, explain to us why that is.  Yoga is all about mind/body/spirit. The poses help us to keep our body in balance. The other aspects of yoga, breathing and centering help us balance our mind. Yoga breathing teaches us how to breathe deeply instead of just into our chest area, which is also very important as a runner.  That breath is what sustains us during a tough yoga practice and a tough run. Centering or meditation helps us to focus and bring our attention inward and can help with visualization. 

Running is simply meditation in motion; the focus we learn in yoga can be carried with us into a run - helping us to relax and settle into that run.  

Tara: What kind of poses do you practice in your yoga for runners classes? And how can people sign up?  

Leanne: Poses change depending on the goal of the group/class. When we are in training mode and working up to race season we work harder - with lots of core work, plank variations, high-low push-ups, balancing poses (working on the core and the mental game), many variations of lunges. This is always combined with lots of stretching in the quads, hamstrings, feet/ankles. One of our favorite poses is Toes Pose. Everyone of us as a runner has tight feet. This pose is a very challenging pose, but brings many benefits. 

After a race we tend to tone it down and do lots a recovery poses using props to help stretch the muscles. And of course legs up the wall; one of the best poses for recovery for a runner.  Every class ends in Svasana, which helps us to learn to relax and let go for a few minutes.

Tara: How can people learn more about BreathMoveBe and sign up for your yoga classes?

Leanne: People can sign up by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or calling/texting me at 306-251-2964. We're currently running a class on Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Namaskar Yoga Studio on 2nd Avenue. I do have some room for drop-in,s so if you want to try out a class reach out. We're also currently certifying more teachers so we can expand the class/workshop offering in Saskatoon and Saskatchewan. If you're interested in becoming a yoga for athletes teacher let us know. We are also available to teach to specific groups if there is enough interest.

Tara: Is there anything else you would like to add?  

Leanne: You do not have to be a yogi to attend yoga for runners classes. We're all runners/athletes in those classes and are all tight - you'll fit right in!

Upcoming Events

New Balance Canada & Brainsport Initiative: Child of the Cross Running Clinics

There's still time left to get in on this fabulous initiative! For every pair of New Balance shoes purchased at Brainsport during the month of October, New Balance Canada will donate a pair of shoes to Child of the Cross Running Clinics.
 

Fall Cross Training, Family Fitness, and Triathlon Training

Registration is now open for Transition Sport and Fitness fall programs including family-friendly fall fitness, cross training for runners and triathletes, virtual Pilates, swim skills sessions, and the fall triathlon training programs. Visit http://www.transitionsportandfitness.ca for more info or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Yoga For Runners

Come experience the benefits of yoga for runners, with the Breath Move Be instructors at Namaskar Yoga Studio - 615 2nd Avenue North. $125 pre-registered and $17 for drop in (if available space). Classes being offered from September 5 to November 7. Register by contacting http:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or text Leanne at 306-251-2964.


Product of the Week

Smartwool socks

Leanne's pick for this week's feature product is Smartwool socks - an excellent pick this time of year! 

"I like these socks especially for my long runs. They fit snug, are nicely cushioned, wick the sweat away and keep my feet cool in the summer and warm in the winter.  They also wash very nicely - holding their shape well. " - Leanne Parsons

Brainsport has many different styles, weight and colour options available in Smartwool socks. Drop by the store to learn more about these Merino wool beauties, and find your match!

Thanks for reading the Times this week . .  gotta run . . .Tara