Experiencing Fatigue? Discomfort? Aches/Pains? Injuries? Want to start safely? Or maybe looking for that competitive edge?

What if a few simple concepts applied to your running or walking technique could make a dramatic difference in effort level and significantly reduce stress on the body?

New Resource: Presentation on the Key to Posture for Efficiency and Injury Prevention with a Lower Ab/Core Exercises Summary Printout

New Resource: Presentation on Walking Technique for Efficiency and Injury Prevention

So what is ChiRunning and ChiWalking? ChiRunning ("chee-Running") and ChiWalking combine the principles and inner focus of T'ai Chi with running and walking to dramatically improve energy efficiency and help to prevent discomfort, aches/pains and injury. The result is postural alignment and motion based on the body's design, simple principles of nature and laws of physics. The benefit is a safe and effective lifelong fitness program.

But should we really consider technique? Many suggest to just run or walk they way we do 'naturally'. But what if our posture and motion is inefficient and putting unncessary stress on our body and mind? And what if very subtle changes could make a very big difference; not only to our lap, mile or marathon but also to the rest of our day and the rest of our life?

When we start or want to improve in a sport or fitness activity, such as golf, tennis, swimming; we usually get some advice or take a lesson. Why would running, and even walking, be any different? In repetitive motion activities, like running and walking, technique is even more critical since the motion is repeated over and over and any negative effects can be magnified. Also, running and walking are two of the very few sports or fitness activities that are performed on varied terrain. As the terrain changes up and down hills, so do the forces of nature affecting us. If we don't adjust our technique for those forces, we are likely opposing and not cooperating with very big forces of nature.

Skeptical that technique can make a big difference? See below for a good analogy.

Latest Resources

New (2009) Edition ChiRunning Book/DVD

Marathon Training Program Beginner/Intermediate

Quick Resource Links

ChiRunning - ChiWalking

Wellness (Nikken)

Resources Page

Injury/Aches/Pains Articles

Knees - IT Band - Plantar Faciitis - Shin Splints

Other Injuries - Prevention

Key Concepts

Alignment - Relaxation - Balance - Engaging your Core - Pelvic Rotation - Cooperating w/ the Forces of Nature

And so what is the big difference? Here is a good analogy: If you wanted to move an object across the ground, would you rather it be a square block or a round sphere? We would all probably want it to be a sphere or wheel for multiple reasons; the main one being it rolls with momentum and little resistance. On the other hand, with the block there is almost no momentum, a lot of resistance and when you stop pushing, it stops moving.

What if your running or walking could resemble more the rolling of a sphere and less the pushing/pulling of a block? What would this mean to your fitness program? How much more efficient would that be? How much easier on the body would it be, reducing or eliminating discomfort/aches/pains/injury. How would this efficiency and injury-prevention affect your consistency and enjoyment? These are just some of the many benefits of applying some simple principles of nature and laws of physics to our movement.

About the Creator and Author, Danny Dreyer

From the ChiLiving, Inc. website ... "Danny Dreyer is the creator of ChiRunning® and ChiWalking®, revolutionary forms of moving that blend the subtle inner focuses of T'ai Chi with running and walking. His work is based on his study of T'ai Chi with Master Zhu Xilin and internationally renowned Master George Xu, and his 33 years of experience, running, racing ultra marathons and coaching thousands of people in “intelligent movement”. He has taught thousands of people the ChiRunning and ChiWalking techniques with profound results." Read Danny's complete Bio here.

Video: Great Posture by Lengthening the Back of Your Neck

Video: Cooperating with the Forces of Nature

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Recent EnerChi Fitness Blog Posts ...

- Persistance Running Technique (10/21/09) ... efficient running for the Persistance Hunt.

- Making Gradual Progress (10/19/09) ... balancing effort and efficiency.

- Should We Run Barefoot? (10/5/09) ... the effects on our running.

- North Face Wash DC 50M Ultra Summary(9/20/09) ... another great running lesson.

- Turkey Swamp 50K+ Ultra Summary (8/10/09) ... back to basics; a level pelvis.

- ChiRunning® ... Land, Peel and Lift (6/18/09) ... creating the wheel.

- Technique Rooted in Principles (5/29/09) ... where it all begins, simple principles.

- Motion by Chance or With Purpose (4/14/09) ... why consider technique?

- Hat Run 50K Ultra Summary (3/22/09) ... six hours of 'practice', up, down, up, down ...

- CR: A Balance of Float vs. Flow (3/18/09) ... yet another aspect of running balance.

- Natural Running Technique? (3/10/09) ... another view on running 'naturally'.

- JFK 50 Mile Ultra and Walking Technique (12/07/08) ... how walking helps your running.

- JFK 50 Mile Ultra, Why 50 Miles? (11/29/08) ... the sanity of it all.

- JFK 50 Mile Ultra Summary (11/23/08), ... a great running and life experience.

Some of the Latest ChiRunning and ChiWalking News ...

- Marathon Training Program (Beginner) and Intermediate are now available.

- New (2009) Edition of the ChiRunning Book and DVD are now available.

- Technique/ChiRunning article in Running Times Magazine, March 09 Issue.

- Run Washington Article on the West Virginia University ChiRunning Study.

- Danny Dreyer on ABC News, "Running without Pain": Watch the video here

- ChiRunning Study by West Virginia University - more data on the significant benefits ...

- More news on the ChiLiving website here.

What People are Saying ...

- "Informative and involving [workshop]. Really good [presenter] ... it was invaluable to learn what it feels like when you're ChiRunning correctly under the guidance of a teacher." Julie, Cape May, NJ

- "I learned a lot from the workshop. I have found that Chi Running has improved my running, recovery, and posture. I have spread the word on Chi Running. It absolutely works!!" Paul - Shrewsbury, NJ

- "David is wonderful! I was so impressed with his patience, his ability to observe the smallest of details and work through them all, and his passion for teaching others until they master the technique. I appreciate his email responses, for they always include some type of educational aspect that I had not known before, and he is also very uplifting, energetic and motivating in a non-threatening way." Debbie, Jackson, NJ

About Me: After many years of my own challenges with overtraining and injury, I was fortunate to find ChiRunning. My fitness program quickly experienced the benefits of a different approach with the primary objectives of Energy Efficiency and Injury Prevention. ChiRunning has created a more enjoyable and consistent program with more focus on how well I am running or walking, and not directly on how fast or how far. Yet I can now run faster and farther than before with no aches, pains, injury or recovery time - interesting how that works ...

Given the significant impact of ChiRunning and ChiWalking to my own health, fitness and well-being ... my objective is to share the ChiRunning ~ ChiWalking techniques and unique approach with others.

If I can help in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me.

My best to you,

David.

David Stretanski

ChiRunning® ~ ChiWalking® Certified Instructor

info@eChiFitness.com

908-930-8878