At first glance, yoga and trail running aren't exactly the perfect combination. Trail running and running are by nature a competitive sport; you run against the clock, against your work colleague or against the runner right in front of you. Yoga, on the other hand, isn't about faster, further, more intense, but about the conscious and controlled movement of the body. It's more about perceiving the body and “sensing your way into yourself”. 

We'll show you why trail running and yoga complement each other wonderfully after all. Because the two sports also have a great deal in common. Both are, for example, simple and uncomplicated to do. You don't need heavy and expensive equipment, you also don't have to travel anywhere to be able to get started. A pair of running shoes or a yoga mat is enough, and off you go. 

Both yoga and trail running make use of an important element with far-reaching physical and mental effects: breathing. Everyone has probably seen or tried breathing exercises in yoga at some point. Conscious and correct inhaling and exhaling guides the sequences of movement in yoga. But the right breathing rhythm is also crucial when running – how many steps you take per breath can decisively influence your heart rate and your performance. 

Runners in particular benefit enormously from trying out yoga. Yoga helps achieve good stability in the core and thereby helps to cushion the impacts when running and to protect the trunk and the spine. Through the many stretching elements in yoga, mobility is promoted: this prevents shortened muscles and the resulting joint problems. Yoga ensures better coordination and leads overall to a clean, efficient running motion. PS: If you'd now like to experience first-hand what the combination of yoga and trail running feels like, you can do so at the running and yoga weekend on Lake Garda with Fabian Haas and Nina Overhage. From 1–3 April, they're offering a small group days on the mat and in the mountains around the northern end of Lake Garda. It will be strenuous, relaxing, intense, fun and wonderful.