If you have bad knees, hips, ankles, or a lower back pain, you won’t want to miss this episode…
Today is “Fitness Friday” and this tip is on injury-free running and walking.
I’ve been a runner for a long time, but it wasn’t until I learned how to get into the right posture that I was a healthy, injury-free runner.
I learned from the principles of ChiRunning that was founded by Danny Dreyer and borrowed from Tai Chi.
(I highly recommend this book. He also has a book called ChiWalking–so the walkers don’t feel left out 
)
My friend Steve Mackel from www.SoCalRunning.com is an expert in running and walking posture and is trained in ChiRunning. He coaches over 300 runners every Saturday in Southern CA! (BTW: If you’re in the area be sure to visit his site and check out his group which has runners and walkers of ALL shapes, speed and ages.)
So naturally, when I met him, I wanted him on the show to instruct some of the perfect posture tricks he’s learned.
Go ahead and take a look and try it while he’s explaining it to me…
The question of the day for today is:
What do you like better… running, walking or yoga… and why? Only three choices, so please chime in by clicking here and scrolling down to the bottom of the page to post your favorite!
If you want also head on over the Steve’s site and check out his running tips e-lesson… www.SoCalRunning.com
8:01 pm on March 14th, 2008
Running is definitely my favorite! You can go as slow or as fast as you want, and if you have lots of energy you can let it loose!
But, I have been running with horrible posture this whole time. Next time I go running I’m going to try not to slouch so much
10:46 pm on March 14th, 2008
I like both running and walking for those days I want to go easy. Walking feels like it uses different muscles and it’s nice to change it up.
5:42 am on March 15th, 2008
Running: If I feel like bounding, barely touching the land beneath my feet, like a gazelle, nothing beats that sensation!
Walking: If I feel like going loop-de-loop-de-loops around the local college’s new SUPER-SPRINGY track with the family ~ My brother POWER WALKS IT __BACKWARDS__!
Yoga: When I feel like joining in the mellowness of the girls here at the house ~ We’ve never once done it with others and would like to give that a try!
“Pick One” is SO limiting!
My 10 year-old is always asking, “What’s your favorite color, Mom”, despite me consistently replying, “I can’t imagine the world without any one of them; I love them all”!
I am SO not a “pick one” person…
8:48 am on March 15th, 2008
Hey there..
Well – - – I’d probably have to say yoga for now – although walking IS becoming a strong second
– who thought THAT would EVER happen??
The video subject was great timing for me. My knees have been sore lately – - I thought it might be the concrete/asphalt that I’ve been walking on. The chiropractor released the little muscles in the backs of my knees (they have a name but I forgot what it is)with his HUGE thumbs yesterday afternoon and my knees feel great this morning.
But now I will check my posture – especially the part about keeping my waist parallel to the ground and the .25 inch “tip” at the hip joints…both are very easy images to keep in my head. And watching the video – rather than reading about it – makes all the difference in understanding what you mean.
Its raining on our St Patrick’s Day Parade and Run today in St Louis…but everything is going great.
Keep it up!!!. Dede
11:37 am on March 19th, 2008
Running!
I read the Chi Running book and just couldn’t get the grasp of it. This video really expands on what I read – will give it another try.
Thanks for posting.
9:11 am on March 20th, 2008
Excellent video Kevin and Steve!
Running has been a long time favorite of mine, but yoga has been rooting deeply into my life lately. I find that by practicing yoga and focusing on my unique needs (including posture overspecializations) that my posture is improved when sitting, walking, and running.
I don’t think I could choose one of the three though – I love doing them all!
10:47 am on March 20th, 2008
I’ve only recently become aware of Chi Running. I found the book at the local book store. Thanks for some additional info.
8:31 pm on August 8th, 2008
Definitely YOGA because all the days of the
year you can practice it but when it rains
or snows it is difficult to walk or jog.
Ofcourse when weather permits walking is
added after my yoga practice. By the way,
Kevin i love what you doing for all of us
here on raw food programme. It is definitely
a GOOD KARMA you are performing. Your place
in HEAVEN is ASSURED.
Sudhakar
6:50 pm on January 8th, 2012
Kevin
The information is, of course, relevant and informative.It’s something everyone should be looking at especially if they decide to run to lose weight (which I don’t encourage in the UK because of our damp weather) but I’d like to put a word in for Tai Chi exercise which has, over the last 14 years taken me from a 48 year lod with a beaten up body.To a 62 year old still able to call himself a Personal Trainer.
Practised well and often it’s not the easy option many athletes think it looks.