In ChiRunning® you are working towards effortless running. I and many others do experience running with less and less effort as running form improves. However, you are still getting great exercise for your body. The movement of ChiRunning® keeps your peripheral muscles supple and relaxed and your core muscles strong while improving your cardiovascular and aerobic conditioning.

Most definitely. ChiRunning® gives beginners the know-how to run correctly from the start. Since you’ll be learning correct biomechanics, your running will be easier for you because you’ll be a more efficient runner. You do not need any previous experience to learn ChiRunning®.

We have LOTS of beginners in our workshops and always have, so don’t hesitate at all. The classes have very little running, mostly exercises to teach you the form, and in every class we have several people who are just beginning to run, or have NEVER run. Many of our favorite success stories are about people who are just getting started.

Triathletes love ChiRunning® because when they get off their bike their legs can take a rest with ChiRunning®. In ChiRunning® you can rest and relax your legs while gravity does the work of pulling you forward.

Most other running methods depend on strong leg muscles to get the job done so the emphasis is on conditioning. ChiRunning® focuses on using minimal leg muscles with more emphasis on using core muscles which are stronger and more efficient. As you learn to lean using core muscles, gravity does the work. In ChiRunning® the emphasis is on maintaining optimal running form. As we say, “it ain’t the muscle, it’s the motion.”

ChiRunning® can work well with Galloway’s walk/run philosophy, however, we don’t believe people need the walk/run method once they can run a certain distance…3-5 miles, comfortably with the ChiRunning® method. Galloway’s program has you walking to prevent injury, but in ChiRunning® you are learning to run bio-mechanically correct and you do not need to walk to prevent injury.

However, beginner runners are working towards building stamina, conditioning and distance, and we do recommend taking a walking break when you feel you need one, but not as a regular practice, again, when you can run 3-5 miles comfortably.

We also highly recommend using the ChiWalking® method when you do walk.

If you can walk comfortably for a few blocks, you are ready for the ChiWalking® workshop and if you can run the same distance you are ready for ChiRunning®. ChiRunning® and ChiWalking® help to eliminate knee problems by eliminating the reason for why they come up in the first place. By teaching you how to prevent over-striding, and heel-strike, ChiRunning and ChiWalking® puts the issue to rest permanently. It can also rid you of shin splints forever by keeping you off your toes. The foundation of ChiRunning®

In ChiRunning®