How to Radically Transform Running -- The Feldenkrais® Way
Radically Transform Running Do you wish that running required less effort and created less tension? Are you frequently getting injured or feel tired and sore after running? Traditional methods of training may work for a period of time in increasing speed or endurance, but the body can only maintain the pressure for so long. What is often missing from traditional training is developing the awareness that teaches our bodies how to function better in a more holistic way. This involves learning how to move with the whole body and not just focusing on separate parts.
The Feldenkrais® Method can teach you about your own body and its specific needs. You can learn to move more efficiently and perform better without the tension that more effort creates.
"You can't do what you want if you don't know what you're doing."
-- Moshe Feldenkrais
Edward Yu is a Feldenkrais® Practitioner and a martial artist in both Tai Chi and Bagua. From his own experiences and practices, he has learned that only in slowing down and "sensing" our own bodies can we really improve how we move. It is only through sensing your own body that you can discover your own power, speed and agility (and run faster without more effort).
Developing an awareness of how different parts of our bodies relate to each other and the environment.
Learning how to use your energy efficiently--stop wasting energy by making unnecessary movements.
Stop trying harder. Rather, try smarter, by learning how to run with more power while using less effort.
Let go of unnecessary tension and stop using contradicting movements.
In his book, The Art of Slowing Down - A Sense-able Approach to Running Faster, Edward has included 20 lessons to help you improve your ability to sense your own body. These lessons will help you come to the realization that your running abilities are more related to your ability to sense your body than willpower or talent. Upon completion of the 20 lessons, expect improvements in posture, gait and ease of movement.
Although the title of this book refers to running faster, everyone who wants to improve how they move can benefit from increasing their body awareness and ease of movement and avoid the stiffness of joints and limited movements that usually come with aging. Discover the youthful movements that still exist within you--rediscover the child within!
It is only through slowing down that we can notice and learn what we are doing.
Edward Yu has a great sense of humor. His unique style of writing and relevant anecdotes makes this book an interesting and easy read. Throughout his book, he brings forth some very interesting and thought-provoking concepts. Some of which, are listed here:
Your running form should be beautiful, unhurried, graceful, easy and effortless.
Pay attention to discomfort. Don't try to mask it with distractions, such as listening to music. You can learn from discomfort when you listen, pay attention and experiment with different ways that feel better.
Stop shuffling. If you notice yourself shuffling when your intention is to run, take a pause. If you shuffle without intention, you are teaching your nervous system how not to run.
To maintain your form even when you fatigue, practice tuning into specific points in your body, i.e. keeping the back of your neck long, reaching for the sky with the top of your head, and others that you will discover in the lessons included with the book.
To learn more about the concept of slowing down to run faster and radically transform running, check out his book.
Please feel free to add your comments or questions below.
The Best Online Running Camp - What if you could run without pain? Imagine instead that when you run your body feels smooth, flowing, and free of unwanted tension.
Do you wish there was a simpler, more discreet way to carry even your large phone while running? Are you frustrated with phone carriers for runners that are bulky and uncomfortable?
What are your running goals for 2023? What was your greatest achievement in 2022? A new year is the perfect time to set a new goal and reflect on last year's achievements. Please share your new goals…
Learn how to stay healthy and keep running using the power of our mind! Are you often plagued by headaches, colds, influenza, sinus infections and other common illnesses that keep interfering with yo…
The holidays create many golden memories, but they are also a very stressful time for many of us. Stress often creates illnesses that we would happily do without. We want to stay healthy so we can fe…
We all want to stay motivated for running as we know how powerful it is. Motivation is a powerful driving force that cannot be deterred and when we are truly motivated, there is no obstacle that can…
I want to my feet to be warm and dry when winter running but buying waterproof running shoes is not the only option. Find out what else you can do to stay dry and warm this winter while running.
Runner’s knee is a painful knee injury that accounts for 27 percent of all running related injuries. Find out how to speed recovery and prevent it from re-occurring.
Choose how you deal with running pain and avoid injuries! We can help stop injuries from developing when we choose a different response to pain, which can also help us develop a coping strategy for a…
When you have this condition, you will experience pain on the outside of the knee while running. The pain is usually sporadic—appearing on some runs and not on others. Find out the causes of ITBS, wh…