1
It’s good for my heart and yoga isn’t going to give me cardiovascular work after all this time.
2
I’m not good at it. Unless it’s an unbelievably good running day, I’ll run for four or five miles and then just bend over and drool until I feel better. But as a teacher of something physical, I think it’s critical to challenge myself to do something that is very difficult for me. I only run three times a week as compared to practicing yoga five or six times a week. I care deeply about yoga and consider running something I have to do like eating broccoli.
3
I like the way that, after a run, my muscles are a little tighter. I have to work a little harder in my practice to warm up and get access to the poses I want to do. It keeps me connected to my students who don’t practice every day and who use the practice to enhance their running, or whatever activity they do, instead of the other way around like me. Sometimes I practice right after I run. My practice is physically a little harder after a run because my legs are tired but the real challenge is mental. I start making excuses immediately about why I should come out of a balance or something, “you just ran, you’re not 25 anymore, you should come out of this.” The answer isn’t “Stay in there! Do it! No pain no gain!” but rather it’s, “Calm down. Calm down more. Breathe better. Do you reeeeaaaaally need to come out of this now or are you just freaking out? Is there a chance you’re still 25 and this was all some weird dream?” By the time I’m done with those thoughts the pose is over. I don’t feel like, “Yeah I won the pose!” I feel as though, even though I’ve worked harder, I’m more relaxed and clear headed. My mind and body are friendlier with each other instead of battling with each other. (yoga=union? hmmmmm ;)