I recently started running. In high school, I really hated running because they gave us an 8-minute goal if we wanted to even be eligible to try out for volleyball or basketball. Of course, I was not able to make this goal, so I went to play softball, where you only have to run for a very, short amount of time! It was perfect!

I have tried to run regularly before, but I get SO BORED just running on the street. So, I learned that I enjoy trail running the most. I think it has to do with the adrenaline that I get when I cannot see where the turn ahead is going to take me. Plus, cougars and snakes live in the trails down here in Texas. Kind of scary.

If you follow me on MapMyRun, you can see when I run, how far, etc. (It's a really great app if you do not already have a running app, by the way).

1. Awareness.

Learning to become a yoga teacher is teaching me a lot about when a pose is right and when it is not, which can be harmful to your body. Being aware of how I sit, stand, walk, etc. has recently come into my viewfinder because of yoga. It is the same for running. I know where to focus my energy and balance while running up a hill and how different it needs to be when running down a hill. I can "run with my core" if I want to get a bit more from my run.

2. Breathe.

Obviously, when you're running you are probably breathing in sync. The breathe is crucial in yoga, as it drives everything about yoga, but it also goes back to awareness. I am breathing with my run, but more purposeful. I take longer inhales and even longer exhales on cool-downs so I can allow oxygen to enter my entire body and help build endurance. Awareness of my breathe has helped me have better runs, as well as easier runs. I feel like I am turning into a long-distance runner, mostly because I vary my breathing.

3. Stretching 

I feel like this is the most obvious way yoga benefits runners, but I will speak to it anyways. Stretching before and after is very important to avoid tense or even injured muscles and ligaments. It also helps relieve lactic acid build-up. Knowing what to stretch is just as important, so knowing specific yoga poses becomes very helpful here. You can always stretch your calves by stepping against a street-curb, but what about some hip-openers? When you finishing sprinting a stretch and want to fill your body up with as much blood and oxygen as possible, do you know how to open your heart-center? There is definitely a benefit to knowing yoga to optimize every aspect of your run.

4. Mind.

I know for a fact the reason I now love running is not because of the burned calories. It is because of the affect it has on my mental health. At my day job, I am the training facilitator of a very busy, very well-known, retail store. I plan training for new-hires, promoted colleagues, new product, new initiatives, etc. I constantly plan, plan, plan, change plans, then tweak plans, then plan some more. When I run, I can let go of everything. There is nothing to plan and no specific destination. The other time I feel as free as I do when I run is when I am traveling. Since I am on a travel-hiatus as I try to prepare for a Spring move to Colorado, I run.

If you are weary of running, like I was, maybe these reasons will help you find a focal point for a reason to run. If you start running and find you need motivation, give yourself a goal. Not necessarily distance, but perhaps something along the lines of, "I want to run from this stop sign to the next block without walking," or, "I want to run farther than I did yesterday." Then share your achievements with others and reward yourself! I am buying myself a new pair of running shoes because of some goals I achieved. In order to create new habits, it is important to tap into the reward center of your brain.

Always remember to celebrate yourself.