Runner turned yogi

jamers3111

Welp, it happened. After 15+ years of running I have been told to stop running (for now). WHAT?! You want me to WHAT?!

What I thought was piriformis pain (which I have been suffering through since January) turns out to be two bulding discs, L4/L5. I have no idea how this happened. The doc said it could have been from my intense training schedule combined with sitting at desk. I have two races coming up but I'm not going to risk it. The doc and my PT said NO RUNNING, NO elliptical, and NO lifting weights, so I shall listen because I want to be back out there on the road. I don't care if I have to take 3-6 months off as long as I know I can get back out there.

Running has been a big part of me for over half my life so it's hard being told it's bad for me. But I may have found a similar love...

I have turned to vinyasa (power) yoga to help strengthen my core/lower back. I have been doing yoga (Bikram and power) off and on since December 2011 and noticed an improvement in my running (pace went from 10min/mi to 8:50min/mi for 10K). Recently, though I have found the practive of vinyasa flow to be my new therapy and meditation. Every day I'm excited to see how my practice will improve or what new pose I will learn/conquer. I guess one can be both a runner and a yogi .

Part of me is craving that cardio, I'm just curious if any of you have had similar experiences. What other workouts could/should I do during this time?

Namaste.

yoginimary

Never had that problem, but can you bike, swim, or walk hills? You could always do that as your cardio.

GiddyupTim

Good luck, Jammers. Hope the yoga helps. At the very least, it is always good to mix things up a bit. Is this a forever thing? Or, once things settle down, is your doctor going to give you a green light again for running?

jamers3111

Never had that problem, but can you bike, swim, or walk hills? You could always do that as your cardio.

I can't walk hills and walking in general causes sharp pains in my left hip. Swimming and the recumbent bike are OK. I just hate both, but I guess I will have to suck it up. Sitting for 10+ minutes hurts, so that's the issue with the bike. Swimming... I'd have to get a gym membership. BUT I do live at the beach, so I could always swim on the calm ocean days

jamers3111

Good luck, Jammers. Hope the yoga helps. At the very least, it is always good to mix things up a bit. Is this a forever thing? Or, once things settle down, is your doctor going to give you a green light again for running?

Thank you Luckily this is supposedly temporary. I won't get a green light for at least 6 weeks, but probably longer. My plan is to stick with yoga regardless. I just miss the road and it's only been like 2 weeks since my last run. haha

GiddyupTim

I'm pretty sure they recommend that you avoid stretching type poses, and do back-strengthening type poses, like bridge pose. But, you've probably already gotten better guidance than I can give.

yogibella

I just had to say, yay for yoga & running! I picked up running recently for the first time ever in my life... I've been doing yoga for longer and I truly believe that I have been able to run this far (training for my first 1/2 marathon) without injuries and with good progress, thanks to yoga. I'm currently into Ashtanga and love my Power classes too. Whatever I do on the mat, it seems, improves my running and running definitely improves my yoga. It's a great combo:)

Hope you get your pain & injury sorted and recover soon:) I hear aqua running is pretty good for healing?

Mlkmaid

Did the exact opposite - yogini first (for about 10 years) and then started running 2 years ago. I find them a perfect complement to each other. But - be careful! You can hurt yourself doing yoga as well. Listen to your body.