good runner, you need a strong core. A 2009 study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that after six weeks' core strength training, runners were found to have a significantly faster 5K time - but why is the core so important

loosely arrange at a 30-40 degree angle away form the body, like the wings of a plane.  Your feet should be hip width apart2. Inhale and, using your whole core: glutes, lower back, abdominals, breathe in lift your arms, legs off the floor as high as you

/forward.Utkatasana: The benefits'This posture is great for your core strength and balance,' says John Elliott, studio manager of Bikram Yoga Miami. 'As part of the Bikram warm-up, it loosens up your knees and ankles, whilst strengthening the ACL and PCL. Knee and ankle pain

set can be developed further, boosting your strength and flexibility in the process. This second set of the pose is considered a seperate posture altogether, so in this post we'll concentrate on Tree.Tree is a calming, gentle pose which comes

, this pose requires a strong core and an extraordinary amount of focus. Whether it's during a lung-busting 5K or a marathon, we've all had soul-searching, 'why am I doing this?' moments when running seems like a really silly idea. The previous four poses

guys would - that yoga was eithera)  A hobby for Birkenstock-wearing, dream-catcher-toting hippies.b)  For women.How wrong I was. A month in (one session a week) I have already seen improvements in my running, my daily posture and my core strength

in Birmingham, Brighton and London.For more core strength and flexibility moves, watch Sarah's bite-sized workout videos at www.sarahoneill.co.uk