stretching
Simple, effective, and no gymnast-level skills required.
As NJ and NYC-based yoga teachers, we meet a lot of pavement-pounding runners looking for relief from a wide range of symptoms from overall tightness and pain due to shortened muscles and strained tendons.
There's no shortage of supplies, services or opportunities for every one of the city's delightful dancers and extraordinary dance companies.
Before you give up on your recovery routine entirely, we're about to make it easier for you to manage. While both foam rolling and stretching have their merits, if you've only got time for one, you should grab your trusty foam roller.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
Come on, get bendy.
An injured runner is like a feral animal. Our instincts tell us to move, to flee, to run like we have for so long. But, we know that we must stay still and heal before we can go back to doing what it is we love. The trail beckons, but we have to resist.
Always stretch before you run -- you've heard it 1,000 times. While the advice makes intuitive sense, you might be shocked to learn there's no research to support this wisdom. And now a study from Texas A&M University suggests that stretching can actually slow you down!
It's an urban myth that bending down and touching your toes means that your hamstrings are healthy and flexible.