Runners Benefit From Yoga

Dr. Lisa M. Belisle is an avid runner; in fact, she is considered an all-around athlete of perhaps the staunchest kind. In her latest blog post, “Yoga-licious Running: Maintaining Balance,” she speaks to the athlete’s list of woes: the ankle twists, and stress on the bones and muscles, and praises the usefulness of adding yoga to the mix. In preparing to talk about this in her blog, she came across an article in the magazine, “Runner’s World,” addressing this very issue. Like most runners, Dr. Belisle knows about the importance of stretching to prepare or cool down the muscles, but she finds that yoga takes it to the next step. It adds a sense of balance, strengthens the core, and adds the mindfulness of breathing. Athletes might benefit from her sage advice at www.bountiful-blog.com.

After Combat: Yoga

Soldiers returning from Iraq or other war-torn countries with post-traumatic stress disorder may find an inner peacefulness they never thought possible—with yoga. Derrick Farley is a soldier stationed at Fort Bragg, who is enrolled in the Specialized Care Program at Washington’s Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The program is teaching him how to use yoga to quell the unnerving symptoms of PTSD. Yoga teacher, Robin Carnes, says she’s noticed an increase in the soldiers’ ability to relax and develop patience, and a decrease in their anger. The guided meditation form of yoga, called yoga nidra, is one of the methods Carnes employs to help these soldiers subdue the horrific memories of combat and assimilate back into a comfortable and relaxing life. See the article at www.fayobserver.com.

Got NIA?

Next time you’re feeling like you want something a little more jazzed than yoga and you really want to have fun, try taking a NIA class. This movement form, which stands for “neuromuscular integrative action” or to some people, “no-impact aerobics,” draws upon a wealth of other disciplines, including yoga, martial arts, and dance. NIA is an energetic art that expends a great deal of energy using every part of the body. It takes its energy and assertiveness components from Tae Kwon Do, its softness from Tai Chi, its swiftness from jazz and modern dance, and its flexibility from yoga. It’s a movement that is on the rise and many yoga studios are offering it. No previous experience is needed, just a desire to keep moving, burn calories, and enjoy the freedom of self-expression. Here are two videos to show you what the form looks like.