How to run easier with core connection

Today’s video is all about how to get running to feel a whole lot easier, when you strengthen and connect to your core.

You see, there’s more to it than just building core strength – because if we’re not properly connecting to it, that strength has little benefit.

In this episode I talk you through what it means to connect to your core, how you can become more aware of that connection, and how to maintain it and build deep strength.

I share an exercise that you may have practised with me before but it’s just so good, simple and beneficial, that I’m sharing it again for those who haven’t!

After you’ve watched, tell me (so I know you’ve got it!) what does core connection mean to you, and how is it going to help you run easier??? You can write to me in the comments below!

All my best,
Helen

→ PS. Get ready to bound into Spring, with our brand new, free challenge starting on Monday! 🥳 We’ll focus on how yoga can get you to that place, where running has never felt so easy. Sign up now to be part of it, over at runbetterwithyoga.com/easy

Related Yoga for Runners

How to improve running posture

Core exercises for beginners

Useful Links

Join the Core Connect challenge! : runbetterwithyoga.com/easy

Instagram @runbetterwithyoga
Run Better with Yoga Community Group

How to run easier with core connection video transcription

Today is about how to get running to feel a whole lot easier, when you strengthen and connect to your core.

Hi, I’m Helen Clare, this is the Run Better with Yoga show, helping you to run injury-free and move with more ease and joy.

The area that’s commonly referred to as our ‘core’ is the collection of muscles that support our lumbar spine from all sides. When we have deep strength here, all movement becomes easier! But, we must also learn how to connect it!

Just having strong 6 pack muscles isn’t enough, as they don’t provide the deep support. And having deep strength but still being unaware of poor posture and how to connect to that strength won’t help either.

With core weakness, or often just lack of postural awareness, can come resting in the hip and knee joints, exaggerating the lumbar curve, with the ribcage out past the hips. We try running like this and it’s almost impossible not to over-stride, which we know puts even more impact through the joints, slows the cadence and takes more effort.

We want to position the ribcage over the hips – I made a whole video on how to test and find your best posture, so we’ll link to that below.

To help build the right core strength and find the awareness of how it feels let’s first, lie down.
Next, bend your knees. Tip your pelvis back pressing your low back down, tip it forward so your back arches up. Find the in between, where you feel your belly drawing in and your spine long, without force.

Keep that as you tap your toes alternately to the floor.

When you can keep your pelvis and spine still, try extending one leg long, and hug the other one in. switch.

Relax bend the knees and lift the hips.

When you make your way back up to standing, check in with your posture, and remind yourself of that deep core strength that we just identified and connect to it to stay tall when you run.

Try that, and let me know how you get on! Head over to the RBY Community group on facebook, or leave me your thoughts, comments and questions on the blog at runbetterwithyoga.com. You’ll find all the links in the show notes. If you want some quick tips, find us on social and tag me at @runbetterwithyoga in a video of you doing or picture.

Before you go – Get ready to bound into Spring, with our brand new, free challenge which is just about to start! We’re focusing on how yoga can get you to that place, where running has never felt so easy. So Sign up now to be part of it, over at runbetterwithyoga.com/easy

Here’s to running with more ease and joy – and I’ll see you next time.