Running is an incredible workout for coronary heart fitness and the overall well-being of your body, however, it brings with itself the soreness of tightened muscles. Stretching out after the run with these yoga poses will do wonders for your sore muscles. It is a relaxing method to cool down after your running session as it allows you to focus on the common sore spots in your body. This quick and easy set of yoga poses will help you relax all the muscles that are involved in running and will relieve the common sore spots of the body.

The Pigeon Pose

The Pigeon pose is a form of yoga pose that helps runners stretch the hip flexors and glutes. These are the most common sore spots in the body after the running session. This is an easy pose for stretching your sore muscles after the completion of your run and can be modified depending on how tightened your muscle tissues get after the run.

To start with the pigeon pose, begin in a high plank position and then move one leg in the direction of your chest, positioning it over the yoga mat such that your knee is bent and your foot is angled outwards towards the other side of your body. Rest your other leg over the yoga mat so it is laying straight at your back. You can remain in this position while keeping your torso in the upright position. Now, lean forward onto your forearms, and if you find it comfortable, then try lower your chest so that it touches the ground.  Hold this position for 30 seconds and then try switching legs and repeat the same for 30 seconds. Make sure that you stretch both legs equally while being in this pose. The lowering of your chest depends directly on the flexibility of your body.

The Heroes Pose

Heroes pose stretches the quads and the hard to stretch muscle tissues of the shin. This is also an excellent pose for the post-run healing of the muscles.

Start the heroes pose by sitting down with your knees bent in front of you. Keep your knees close to each other and feet wide (Don’t sit on your feet). With your heels near or touching the hips, get your torso straight up. Hold this pose for 30 seconds but try spending more time on this pose. You may take breaks and then return to spend some more time in this stretch.

The Warrior I Stretch

This yoga pose will also stretch your hip flexors. Additionally, it will stretch your chest, shoulders and your lower back. Although a simple-looking pose, this stretch will require more balance than the other two poses discussed here.

Start this yoga pose in a lunge position. Stretch the knee of your back leg so that it is straightened but don’t lock it. Keep your front knee in a bent position. Now raise your hands straight up so that your shoulders and palms are positioned closer to your ears. Now lift your chin up and try opening your chest towards the sky. You can also alter this pose by keeping the back knee bent in a lunging pose or resting it on the yoga mat. Hold this pose for 30 seconds and try repeating it with each leg. Ensure that you stretch both legs equally so that the effect of the stretch is uniform on both sides of the body.

Adding this simple series of yoga exercises will help you recover easily and ease out the sore spots in your body after a run. It will help cool down your body, alleviate pain and strengthen all the muscles to prevent any unwanted injuries.