Strength exercise for running - pilates? Yoga?

[Mmmicecream]

Which would you do? I am embarking upon some running and really need to up the strength training as am concerned about injury, and there are local yoga and pilates classes so wondering if one of them would do, or if something else entirely was better.

What do you think?

Mmmice Start slowly and only do it if you LIKE it ! I do dancing or a short but energetic walk before breakfast and work up gradually to a longer walk. (i can't bear running). It works for weight loss. ESP. before eating.

I've never done Yoga, but have been doing Pilates for around 2 years. I love it. When I first started I wondered if it was doing anything at all, as it was very, very gentle. But you start with learning how to find your core muscles then up the work you do with them. Takes a while to get into it but I do think that its a very good exercise for core strength which is what you need for the higher impact sports. I'm now 24 weeks pregnant and still going weekly, I think the core strength is really helping as before Pilates I was prone to a lot of lower back pain and so far I have had none with all the extra weight on the front upsetting my balance.

Yes I 2nd pilates too and tui na (shiatsu).

What sort of strength are you looking for? Yoga is very good for runners, but won't make your legs stronger. It helps to lengthen and soften the muscles that running makes shorter and harder, so it is a helpful counterpart that will help to avoid injuries.

If you want stronger legs, I'd suggest strength training - squats, lunges, etc will all give you more powerful legs. (Though that doesn't help minimise the risk of injury).

Have you done either yoga or pilates before? I trained for the marathon last year (having run and done yoga much less seriously for a long while) and credit yoga and swimming with saving my post-baby body from serious injury...but I would have thought whatever you choose is more likely to be helpful if you enjoy it for its own sake too.

I vote for a vigorous power yoga, maybe hot (not necessarily bikram, hot ashtanga or similar) but I can't tolerate how much mat work there is in pilates. Running is so bad for tightening up hamstrings and stuff but yoga is the best for making you strong and elastic all over.

Dynamic pilates works wonders and especially good for core strength.

Iyengar yoga is brilliant for running. Lots of standing poses and leg work. Helped me loads when training for a half marathon.

Thanks for your advice! I have done both before, but never seriously and still don't quite understand how they differ. And my main aim is to avoid injury - having had 2 DCs in recent years and a dodgy knee my main aim is to prevent it from coming back and to get a really good stretch as tight calf muscles have been a problem before. I think I will need some extra strength as well - squats, lunges etc.

I ran a half about 5 years ago and did nothing with my core at all and got terribly injured, so really don't want that to happen again

If you're worried about injury, Pilates and yoga is great but swimming is even better!

I'd say exactly what Lordemsworth said , yoga is fantastic (I love it, but don't enjoy pilates, but some people are the opposite ) but if you are looking for for strength gains then weight training (even just using body weight), doing compound exercise, for upper and^ lower body (arm and core strength will help your running too!) is best.

woah - that's a lot more italics than I expected

I would say Pilates. The class I go to does lunges squats fit ball for circle foam roller a bit of light weights as well as the core work and stretching out the muscles. I find the side leg series especially useful for my running and will often do a few reps of them at home. Try out a few different classes and see which u like best. Every instructor will have their own style. Ive been to about 6 different Pilates instructors before I found the class that I get the most out of.

I would say Pilates. The class I go to does lunges squats fit ball for circle foam roller a bit of light weights as well as the core work and stretching out the muscles. I find the side leg series especially useful for my running and will often do a few reps of them at home. Try out a few different classes and see which u like best. Every instructor will have their own style. Ive been to about 6 different Pilates instructors before I found the class that I get the most out of.