April Showers

Spring has begun! The days become longer, the temperature slowly rises and the weather, well its rainy. Each April, with the temperature above zero, I look forward to running outside again. I stick to the treadmill once the snow starts to fly and ice begins to cover the ground so it’s like coming out of hibernation when I can hit the pavement for the first time. The feeling of fresh air in my lungs and, if I’m lucky, the sun on my face. Though, usually it’s the rain hitting my face in April, but you won’t hear me complaining. One, of a couple, yoga poses that I always do following a run is Runner’s Lunge. 

This pose is beneficial, specifically for those who run, because it strengthens the knees, quads, glutes and hips as well as stretches the ankles, calves, hamstrings, hip flexors and groin. This pose can be set up a number of ways. Starting in downward dog, Adho Mukha Svanasana, one leg steps between the hands, ensuring knee is inline with ankle. The hands push off the mat as the torso begins to rise, coming into a high lunge. Shoulders roll back and down as the arms come up and in line with the torso, fingers reaching towards the heel of the extended leg. Your gaze being a few feet in front of the top of your mat. Another option is to start in mountain pose, or Tadasana. Grounding through one leg, the other steps back into a high lunge.  Arms stay along the torso as it begins to come forward over the front leg, again ensuring the knee is inline with the ankle. Shoulders roll down and back and fingers reach towards the heel of the extended leg.  The goal is to create a straight line from the crown of the head to the heal of the extended leg, regardless of how you bring yourself into the pose. To modify, if needed, the knee of the back leg can lower to the mat, allowing for more stability and support in the pose.

This hip opener is commonly used as a transition pose, as April is a time of transition when the snow melts and the thawing earth becoming saturated with water with the help of the all the rain.  Along with the warmer temperatures, this allows for regrowth and new growth of trees and plants. A sure sign spring has come. This pose also actives both the first and second, root and sacral chakras which are associated with the elements of earth and water respectively. 

So I encourage you to lace up and get outside, embrace the warmer temperatures and the rainy weather of the season. Once you’ve completed a run, or walk, stretch those legs and hips with a Runner’s Lunge, making sure to do it on both sides, and feel the difference. I will share the rest of the poses I do after a run in the coming months. Stay tuned!

** At the time of this posting, due to the uncertain circumstances in the world currently, I am still running on the treadmill to stay safe and healthy.**