BALANCED N MOTION

Sitting Up In Your Chair

One of the first things you learn in Chi Running or Chi Walking is posture. Posture is the cornerstone and without it, you will be fighting gravity all the way down the road. You must remember that in order for you to move with gravity, your body must form a straight column from your ankles to your shoulders. If you are bent at the waist, the advantage of your lean is lost. Always remember the lean comes from your ankles.

Most people have a tendency to bend at their waist and many lead with their hips while their shoulders are bent backwards, forming a posture in the letter "S".  This poor posture actually works against gravity and reduces efficiency significantly.

To correct your posture and begin developing your cornerstone for Chi, try the following; Stand with both feet facing forward and feel for the crown of your head. The “crown” of your head is the flat spot toward the back of your head. Lift up from there like you’re a puppet on a string. If you're doing it correctly you will feel several things happen. First you will feel taller, your chin will drop down, you will feel your hips and shoulders come into alignment, and most importantly your will feel your core muscles begin to engage.

Chi runners refer to this as "sitting up in your chair". Practicing this while standing or sitting every day will help you work towards creating a proper and efficient running posture. Remember that people who Chi run are encouraged to think of it as a practice not unlike yoga or Tai Chi.

When you first start running, there normally is a goal the runner has set for themselves. For some it could be to lose weight, get in shape, start a healthy lifestyle, run for a cause, or challenge oneself. Regardless of the reason, the runner has made a conscious decision to go forward with their plan. […]
Do you find yourself not able to run as much as you like or can't quite get that one run in due to time constraints?  Here is a new blog from Danny Dreyer, founder of ChiRunning® to give you another option. Can 1-Minute Intervals Improve Your Health? - Chi Running
When you go for a run, do you look to improve your running form or pay attention to how your body is feeling? Do you just break your runs into tempo, long slow distance, hill repeats, intervals, or fun runs? Do you just consider it a great workout if you made it through the plan? […]