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9 Post-Run Yoga Poses to Relieve Lower Back Pain

You've logged your miles for the day, so why is it that you feel worse than you did before you started? Despite the physical and spiritual benefits of running, there's no denying that hitting your stride day after day can take a serious toll on your body.

"The ankles, knees, hips, calves, hamstrings and especially the low back, all take so much pounding," says Matthew Reyes, a marathoner and yoga instructor in Santa Monica, Calif. "It's the price we pay for the sport that we love, which is why adding yoga into the routine is so important."

Incorporating a few Downward-Facing Dogs into your regular fitness regimen can help relieve chronic pain in no time. "I've run the LA Marathon five times," says Reyes, who has earned rave reviews from celebrity fans like Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Garner. "I was the least-injured member of my running group, which had everything to do with being the only yogi in the pack."

Want to do the same to relieve lower back pain through yoga? These ten poses will get your core in tip-top shape. "I created this sequence to do after a run or even daily," says Reyes. "It may not seem like much, but your back and body will thank you."

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