I am a student of the Japanese martial art called Aikido. Ki is the same as Chi in Chi Running! Aikido in itself has given me a lot. I have learned how to focus and how to center and that has been part of my live for over twenty years now. But it was not until I used Chi Walking during a summer break where I walked in the mountains that I fully understood what centering is all about. The key to this for me was the body sensing exercise. While walking in the mountains, I felt tired and was not enjoying the ride at all. Then, I started working on the form focuses, and when I started doing the body sensing exercise all of a sudden I felt completely centered and in the "here and now".

I was not tired any more, I was enjoying the birds that were singing and I could see the many colors that nature brings. I started using the exercise more and more, and it has even taken me to change the subject of my Ph.D. research. I have now created a new method called A.I. ki do, which is a combination of Aikido and Appreciative Inquiry (A.I.). In the method, I teach people how to find their source of power and how to center. This leads to better performance, better communication, better co-creation and so on.

The Chi Running technique has given me back my life! I am running every morning for about 45 minutes and feel energized when I come home to work. I have lost 15 kilo’s of extra weight that I have been carrying around for the last few years. I am now able to focus instantly and constantly because of the form focuses I do while I am running. Chi Running has changed my life for the best. I am very grateful for this beautiful ‘tool’.

Kind regards,
José Otte 

"I consider myself to be a relative newbie to Chi Running.  This app is amazing for all experience levels of Chi Running.  It is FULL of information with helpful Chi Running lessons and stretches.  Even more impressive to me is the all inclusive nature of the app.  During the runs you have your metronome and Danny reminding you of the Chi focuses you're working on. Look no further if you want to know your distance, time, pace, elevation gain, calories burned. LOVE it!"

His Chi Walking class is designed for anyone – from people who have not exercised in a long time to those who want to improve their posture, strengthen crucial core muscles (i.e. your “core”), relax tight and overused muscles that may be causing pain, and gain cardio and aerobic conditioning.

Prior to Jeff’s Chi Walking class, I thought the only way to stand up straight was to "throw one’s shoulders back”. In the very first class I quickly learned how to align my body and engage my core, and by doing so was standing straighter than I have stood in a very long time.

I have never felt better than after his class; I have increased energy for the day.

I highly recommend Jeff and his Chi Walking class for everyone."

- Ronelle "Ronnie" Genser, Sandy Springs, GA

After taking Danny's level 1 workshop and reading Born to Run I was a convert to Chi running with minimalist shoes--my distance grew and time went down. Last year I really began to focus on "being a runner" again--started running very regularly, increasing distance, running faster, and took Chi Running 2, which gave me some important pointers about my form and technique. That was October. On Thanksgiving Day I participated in a five mile Turkey Trot--I did it for fun with no expectation or idea of how I was doing, and I came in 3rd in my age group!

In addition to making me feel great about myself (and about turning 50!), getting back to running has also helped me achieve my original goal of connecting to my son through running. He's now about to break a 4:30 mile, so we can never run together (at least not past the end of the driveway), but we talk about running all the time and share stories and training tips. I think it's really helped him feel supported throughout his own journey to elite running, and for that connection I am the most grateful.

Thanks again,

Linda Cowen

Because of an old ankle injury that tends to swell when I run, I've become a faithful walker. Yesterday, I walked four miles in an hour . . . I'm not up to marathon standards but I am feeling so good and so fit and, best of all, so pain free.  

Lynn has been walk/running faithfully, and mixing this up with really vigorous weight training because he is still building professionally and needs his core, shoulder, and leg strength for daily work as well as the benefits of increased aerobic capacity. He looks wonderful and feels awesome.

All in all, we are doing very well thanks to your amazing Chi Wisdom.

Please pass our love along to Katherine and the Chi Living team.

Jane's fingers, both our hearts

I have been a reluctant runner on and off for several years, having had to run for the military. As a doctor, I am acquainted with the anatomy of the human body. However, my first few forays into half marathon training were fraught with various different pains. I had very bad foot pain during my first half marathon. My second half marathon, I started having significant hip pain, a condition I had diagnosed myself with called Trochanteric Bursitis. I was able to complete both races but in a significant amount of pain.

At a point shortly afterwards, I had basically stopped running altogether in favor of cycling, which I found to be less painful to my body. I found that I could cycle for several hours and feel relatively refreshed afterwards. But with running, I always felt "beat up" after running for any significant different.

It was not until one of my patients had recommended that I try Chi Running that I decided to give it a try. In short, after reading the book and implementing Chi Running into my runs, I found that I was able to run more than 3 miles (which had seemed to be my limit) without pain. In fact, within a matter of 6 weeks of Chi Running, I was able to complete a half marathon without pain (except for calf cramping because I was going so fast!) and was able to achieve a personal best. This included cramping at around mile 10, at which point I had to slow down but not stop, thanks to Chi Running!

Since then, over the past year, I had trained with the Chi Running marathon book for my first full Marathon in December 2011. Needless to say, with Chi Running, I was able to train up successfully for the full marathon and to do so while avoiding injury!

All this time, I have been lauding the praises of your book, not only Chi Running but also Chi Walking! I talk of your books to my patients at every opportunity and many of them have purchased and implemented your techniques to help them stay active and fit. I have at times felt like an infomercial salesperson when I speak of your books, but the proof is in the pudding! I use myself as an example and many of my patients have given me feedback on their responses to the Chi Running.

I work at a large health organization and we have a health store within the building that I work. I have asked the staff to stock the Chi Running and Chi Walking books for my patients. It has been a hit so far, and the first few patients that have bought the books were not even my patients!

I wanted to thank you once again for your book and allowing me to run more naturally!

Dr. Joe Sumaquial, CA

      I just wanted to tell you that I’m so grateful to know you, and when I look back it’s interesting how meeting you at REI for the Chi Running demo has affected so many things that are going on in my life (for the better) right now.

      After REI and then taking your Chi Running workshop, I was finally feeling brave enough to start running again after hurting my knees badly in 2001, training poorly for a full marathon and a few half races after that. You got me feeling comfortable enough to try another half marathon, so I signed up for your team for the Women’s Half Marathon last Fall. I met Laura K. at the Sole Sport’s team kickoff and instantly bonded with her.

      She and I motivated each other continuously via emails etc. during training and occasionally ran together closer to our “hood” since it was hard for both of us to make a lot of the group training runs, being so early in the morning and far from where we lived. Through Laura... I met Amy D. at a Sole Sports running event. Again... Instantly bonded with her. Through Amy... I’ve met a handful of amazing, inspiring, ACTIVE women that I adore. They’ve got me totally hooked on all these fun-themed races that go on all over town, and it’s a blast! Those girls got me to run the craziest 5 mile hill course yesterday at 5:30 a.m. - something I would NEVER have done before, and I was totally able to “hold my own.”

      I’m at that weird almost 40ish age range where I’ve been feeling a major shift amongst myself and many people in my life. And it’s just life... I love them all. People get busy, a lot are not really interested in participating in or training for exercise “events,” people have husbands, kids.... etc., and I’d been feeling a bit bored and stale. I’m so grateful to have come into this “active community” where people are so cool, supportive and inspiring.

      Seriously, I would not be running right now NOR would I have met all these amazing new people currently in my life (many of which you know) if I hadn’t met you. At REI. Hahaa! Because of you, I have made some fabulous new friends with similar interests, I’m in better shape than I’ve been in, in awhile, I’m Chi Running comfortably, smartly and just overall feeling good about life.

      I’m so excited for you doing this full marathon! What a great thing to do on your birthday. Happiest of birthdays to you and may this new “birthday year” bring you much fun, joy and happiness! I hope that I’ll have the chance to see you more often in person than on Facebook.

Thanks again Coach! 

Michelle S.

Arizona

Resources to help you master the Chi Running basics:

• Chi Running Book: A Revolutionary Approach to Effortless Injury-Free Running
• Chi Running DVD: A Revolutionary Approach to Effortless Injury-Free Running

Thank you again for giving me back my "me time".

Michelle and Noble
 

Cheers,

Sue B.

Resources to help you master the Chi Running basics:

• Chi Running Book: A Revolutionary Approach to Effortless Injury-Free Running
• Chi Running DVD: A Revolutionary Approach to Effortless Injury-Free Running