About Chi Running®
Since 1999, Chi Running® has taught the benefits of natural, barefoot-like running to hundreds of thousands of people through the Chi Running book, DVD, workshops and training programs. There are currently more than 170 Certified Chi Running Instructors in 21 countries. The Chi Running book has been translated into 10 languages, with more than 300,000 copies in print. An updated and revised edition was released in the U.S. in 2009 by Simon & Schuster.
Running: The Myth and The Reality
Running has gotten a bad rap. For many years people believed the myth that running causes pain and injury and is actually harmful to the body, despite its many health benefits.
One aspect of our mission is to disprove this myth. Since 1999, Chi Running customers have changed their running technique, reducing, preventing and recovering from running injuries. Beginning runners have found that our natural, full-foot running technique is easier and more enjoyable. Competitive runners have found increased speed and decreased recovery time, without being plagued by running injuries. Injured runners come back to running empowered with information to prevent recurrence.
Since 2004, two major studies have been published showing that humans are “born to run” and are designed to do so for prolonged distances. Dr. Daniel Lieberman of Harvard was co-author of both studies and is one of the leaders in researching the biomechanics of running. Chris McDougall’s best-selling book Born to Run concurs with the Harvard findings. A West Virginia University Survey of 2500 Chi Runners, shows that 90% were able to change their running mechanics.
Our physiology is predisposed to running. Natural, barefoot-like running is one of the greatest ways to get fit, relieve stress and feel great. When done mindfully, there is no downside to running.
The other myth is that running is hard work and you have to be fit to run, which is true if your running technique is inefficient. Chi Running makes running easier, natural and more enjoyable, even for running beginners. In the West Virginia Survey, 95% said their ease of running improved.
“Running does not cause injury; incorrect or inefficient running technique is the true culprit.” – Danny Dreyer, Founder of Chi Running
The Chi Running Technique
The pain-free Chi Running technique blends the powerful movement principles from T'ai Chi with running to create a revolutionary approach to effortless and injury-free running.
The cornerstones of Chi Running are postural alignment and relaxation because the combination of the two is the best way to run faster, farther and injury-free. The Chi Running technique includes: landing with a midfoot strike, using a "gravity-assisted" forward lean and engaging core strength for propulsion rather than leg strength. This approach makes your running easier and healthier for your whole body.
The Chi Running technique shares many components with the Kenyans and East Africans who are some of the most relaxed and efficient runners in the world and who have dominated the long distance racing scene for decades.
Chi Running teaches this technique to all levels of runners through an easy and enjoyable, step-by-step system.
The Chi Running Approach: Feel What it Feels Like!
Feel what it feels like to run relaxed, with no resistance from your body to your forward momentum. Many of our clients have found the experience to be life changing.
The Chi Running approach is based on the same mindful principles and orientation as Yoga, Pilates, and T'ai Chi: working with core muscles, integrating mind and body, focusing on long-term performance. At the heart of it is your process of discovery. It doesn’t matter what anyone else is doing (how fast or far they can run). What matters is the quality of your experience and the sustainability of your well-being.
If you’re a competitive runner and you do care how fast and how far your competitors can run (and you want to beat them), this mind-body approach to improving technique will also sharpen your mind, which will give you the physical and mental edge to finish ahead of the pack.
Injury-Prevention
Running is considered a high-injury sport, and no wonder. Studies show that over 50-60% of runners have to stop running due to injury every year. You don’t have to be part of that statistic.
Chi Running is a natural, midfoot strike running technique based on highly efficient biomechanics placing much of the workload on core muscles, rather than the legs. By putting the workload where it belongs you can reduce or eliminate: IT band syndrome, plantar fasciitis, shin splints, hamstring pulls, and the most widespread running injury of all, Runner's knee.
The pain-free Chi Running technique and approach takes the pounding, pain, and potential damage out of the sport of running.
Technique-based Training Programs
The Chi Running family of training programs offers an alternative to strength-based training programs which have been the norm since the mid-1900's and which only tell you how far or fast to run. Our technique-based training programs offer all runners a way to run farther, faster and injury-free without relying solely on muscle strength. Get started with a run-walk 5K training program, improve your 10K or truly enjoy a half or full marathon - pain-free.
The Chi Running technique virtually changes the landscape of the sport of running. Whether you seek a competitive edge or just want to stay fit, you will increase your mental clarity and focus, enhance your joy of running, and transform natural, pain-free running into a safe and effective lifelong program for health, fitness, and well-being.
