Chi Discussion Forum

Hello chi Runners. I am using now a metronome on my running, but I am not able to coordenate it with breathing. Withouth the metronome I was counting 4 steps (right,left,right,lef-breathing in) and 6 steps (righ,left,right, lf,rt,left- breathing out), but when I use the metronome I loose my breathing cycle and end up not breathing enough and the right way.

Thanks for a hintful input,
Carlos

Hi Carlos

Try not to over think cadence and breathing. Just focus on cadence right now. Let your body figure the breathing out, with regard to the number of steps. The important thing to remember is to BREATHE - meaning, if you are getting winded, you may need to focus more on the exhale than the inhale. A lot of people make the mistake of inhaling more than exhaling when they get winded, but this can cause build up of stale air in the lower part of the lungs. So make sure your exhale is longer than your inhale.

But for now, just focus on the cadence. Hope that helps.

Laura Houston
Certified Chi Running and Chi Walking Instructor
Seattle WA

Laura,

Thanks kindly for you reply. I will follow your advice.
It helped a lot. I am getting so much improvement by using the metronome.
Just curious fo find out which metronome or settings on the seiko model sold at chiLiving is capable of make the coordenation between the cadence and the breating cycle after I advance from this phase.

If you are around here in Orange County- Newport Beach and avilable for 1 hr private instruction , I can be in your list.

Take care,

Carlos

Hi Carlos

On the metronome there isn’t a setting designed to coordinate cadence and breathing. That said, you can play with the Beat setting and change the emphasis of the beat (as in a waltz where the emphasis is on ‘one’ of ‘one-two-three’). That can be a way to remind you of exhale and inhale, but really, in my opinion, that is over thinking it.

I’m in Seattle, but there are instructors in your area. Go to http://www.chirunning.com/learn-it/find-an-instructor to find one. Good luck!

Laura Houston
Certified Chi Running and Chi Walking Instructor
Seattle WA