Running is a great way to stay fit, but many people jump into it unprepared. We put on our shoes and head out the door. We're natural runners, right? Who needs to learn how to run?
Running is a sport like any other. We take lessons for tennis, golf, swimming and countless others sports. Lessons teach us the best way to practice. When we lift weights, we need to have good form to get the most out of our workouts and prevent injuries. It's the same with running.
Our bodies are designed to run, but over time, we pick up habits that can make it challenging. We don't run much in our everyday lives. Most of us spend more time sitting than we should, and we have compromised posture and weak core muscles as a result. It's not surprising that 60 to 70 percent of runners get injured every year.
Running doesn't have to be hard, and it doesn't have to hurt. Whether you're 20 years old or 80, overweight or slim, or you've been injured before, we can all enjoy running. Running isn't about pushing through pain, or running so far that your legs feel like rubber, or sitting in endless ice baths. You should feel physically and mentally energized after a run, and you should be able to reach your fitness goals without getting sidelined by injuries.
More: 7 Secrets to Prevent Running Injuries
Since 1999, the ChiRunning technique has helped thousands of people run without pain or injuries, including competitive athletes, recreational runners and beginners. ChiRunning blends principles from T'ai Chi with sound biomechanics to reduce impact and fatigue, improve performance and efficiency, and minimize recovery time.
The best side effect? Running becomes fun, fresh and something you just can't miss.
5 Reasons You Should Try ChiRunning
Reduce Pain and Injuries
If you think of the road as a force coming at you when you're running, every step you take is a force in the opposite direction, causing impact to your body. Constant impact is hard on muscles and joints and can lead to common running injuries like "runners' knee," shin splints, and IT Band Syndrome. ChiRunning teaches you how to reduce that impact through:
? Correct alignment and posture
? Landing with a midfoot strike instead of a heel strike
? Leaning into gravity slightly from the ankles
? Engaging core strength for propulsion instead of using your legs
? Keeping a quick cadence
? Relaxation
Many runners land on their heels and pull their body weight forward with every step. This makes your small lower leg muscles work harder than they were designed to. When you land with your feet underneath your body and lean forward with an engaged core, your legs can simply support your weight instead of pushing or pulling it forward. Since most running injuries occur at the knee and below, it's important to work the legs as little as possible.
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About the Author
Danny Dreyer is the creator of ChiRunning? and ChiWalking?, revolutionary forms of moving that blend T'ai Chi with running and walking. ChiRunning and ChiWalking by Danny and Katherine Dreyer are No. 1 sellers with over 350,000 copies sold. Chi Marathon hits shelves March 2012. The ChiRunning app is now available for iPhone and Android. As an accomplished ultra marathoner, Danny speaks at prestigious wellness events across the country. He has taught training groups, including the AIDS Marathon and Team in Training and USA/FIT. Danny, along with more than 180 Certified Instructors, holds capacity-filled clinics around the world. Danny's lifestyle is steeped in holistic living, meditation, and personal wellness and is the foundation of what he teaches.
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