Yoga my way back

Tightness. This is the runner's enemy to going fast and long. Somewhere along my path, it became crippling. A few weeks ago I started working with my trainer Ally at O2 fitness in Cary. She identified that my tightness and weakness because of the tightness were really imparing my attempts to get and stay healthy. All these years of moving in a linear motion have not helped my tightness. Having rock hard legs is a bad sign. Limping after every workout from stifness is a bad sign. Not stretching is a bad thing. About the same tame I took a Vinyasa yoga class that my health club offered. The first class was terrible. I lasted about 45 minutes, the second I lasted about 55 of an hour and 15 minute class. Now I have tried stretching from time to time and with limited success. This time the structure of the yoga class along with using my foam roller after workouts has really helped. I am starting to loosen up. Now it may look comical to others in the class but, I am able to bend over and touch my toes, sit on the floor without my knees being around my ears and feel more fluid walking. Last Saturday at Umstead, I ran ahead of the group a little. I ran a time on one section that I have not run in quite a while and it felt easy. Loose means fast. Maybe this yoga stuff will help me age more gracefully. I can't dance but, I can Yoga my way back to fitness.