If you have ever attended a ChiRunning Workshop you were most likely introduced to using your mind to move your center forward instead of using your legs for propulsion. If not, learning how to develop a conversation between your mind and body can be a difficult task for some. The other challenge is learning to recognize where your center is in relationship to the rest of your body.

To move from your center first, you must identify where that location exists. In Tai Chi, this location is referred to as your Dantien. To locate your Dantien, place your hand at the level of your bellybutton and space three fingers below and imagine 3” towards your spine. Using your imagination, think of it being an energy sphere about the size of a tennis ball. When first learning how to move from your center after you have instated your best posture, put you mind on the location of your Dantien. Once you have it located, start connecting it to other locations in your body. I.e. where it exists in relationship to your shoulders, hips, and ankles. Mentally take a snapshot to draw upon later. Next, think about moving to the left from the Dantien and then move it back to the right. If you are truly moving from your center you will feel everything shift to your left and then to the right. Try turning from the center and notice your body follows whichever direction you direct your Dantien to turn. If you direct it to move forward your body weight will shift forward and if you do not pick up a foot to keep up with forward movement you might land on your face. Same will happen if you move from the center towards the rear. Try walking around while staying in correct posture allowing for your center to move first while picking up your feet to keep up the forward motion. Notice that the forward momentum is generated by moving from your center. If you move your center back, you will notice you either slow down or stop depending how much your center moves.

It’s fun to challenge yourself not to push off with your feet while moving and to turn your center and observe your body is following along with legs, nice and relaxed. For some it does not come easy but with mindful practice throughout the day it does get easier. Originating centered movement while walking and doing daily tasks, it will become more familiar and much easier to bring into your runs. For most, if you have instated your posture and located your Dantien, begin running in place then allow your Dantien to move in front of the feet without changing how your feet are moving; You will experience this effortless motion. Bringing your center back and the forward motion stops. The key is that you just keep lifting the ankles up over the opposite heel without pushing off from your feet.

As the runner begins to learn how to regulate their balance with forward motion for speed, they are able to experience just how relaxed the feet, ankles, and calves can stay. All this movement comes from the mind first instructing the body to move from the center and the mind continues to assess the feedback from the part of the body it is communicating with. In order to reap the benefits of a mindful practice, the mind must be involved. Remember, where the mind goes, the body will follow.  It just needs practice.