Running is a popular exercise. It’s great for burning calories, improving endurance, and raising your metabolism. Running also builds lean leg muscles around your thighs, calves, and butt. However, because running requires that these muscles perform the same motion repeatedly for an extended period of time, it can also leave your legs feeling tight. Muscles that are too tight can feel sore and impair your running. Tight muscles can also prevent you from maintaining proper form. This is why stretching after running is so important. Frequent stretching can prevent sports injuries such as shin splints, piriformis syndrome, and achilles tendonitis.

Yoga is a great way to stretch and loosen muscles. These five yoga poses for runners will loosen and strengthen the muscles you use for running. Doing this routine after long runs or on rest days will help you maintain proper form and prevent injuries.