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 

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

      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

    The money I spent to take a private lesson from you was some of the best money I've ever spent. I knew I was learning about Chi Walking as we were working and practicing but I did not truly know how much until I started walking again. We had out of town company right after my lesson so I did not walk again for several days. When I did go walking I did my "regular" walking and then practiced my Chi Walking. I was frustrated because I was slower doing Chi. I had made the goal to be faster doing PF Changs than I had been during Disneyland Half Marathon so I decided that I would concentrate on Chi Walking after PF Changs. I would go back to my "regular walking". The next day I started out but discovered that my feet were not striking with the heel first but mid-foot first. I stopped and started again, trying to achieve a heel strike - I could not do it unless I concentrated very hard. I gave up on the idea of heel striking and went with the midfoot. I concentrated on improving my pace, not worrying about my alignment or my arm movements. I had naturally shortened my stride. My average pace before my lesson was 15 - 16 minute/mile. My pace has been steadily getting faster. I did 10 miles with a 14:45/mile pace. My son, who did Disneyland Half Marathon in 1:20, went with me twice during the Christmas Holidays. He commented that I was moving pretty fast for someone who was walking, In fact, he said I was faster than some runners he has observed. That made me feel really great. 

    I am not not supposed to run because of 3 knee surgeries and spinal stenosis and my husband is very firm in wanting me to not run. I did a small amount of running during the Disneyland Half Marathon and did confess this to my husband, I really wanted to finish within the time limit. After one of my recent walks I was reading off my lap times - 14:10, 13:39, 13:24, 13:34 etc to my husband. My husband accused me of running but I had only walked. He was amazed. Even though I am not doing the Chi posture, it has helped me when I have experienced pain during my walks. One day when I was doing a long walk my back started to give me a fair amount of pain. I thought I might have to stop but decided to try getting my body in Chi alignment (reverse crunch). My pain went away. It came back when I starting to lean so I did the reverse crunch and the pain went away again. Another time, I noticed my left ankle was bothering me so I stopped and did the ankle rotations to relax my ankles. When I started up again my ankles were loose and did not hurt at all.

You are an amazing instructor and I truly thank you. You and Chi Walking have made a tremendous difference in my walking.

Linda S.

Phoenix, AZ

Having successfully finished the World Ironman Championships in Kona Hawai'i just a few days ago, I wanted to express my deepest gratitude to you.

Thank you for bringing Chi Running into this world. I would not have been able to reach the ultimate goal for all triathletes without you!

For this reason, I decided to wear your Chi Running cap on race day and through the finish line.

If I can be of any assistance in promoting the Chi Running technique, please let me know.

Best regards from
Alexander-Maximilian   

I feel fortunate that Curt Munson, owner of Playmaker's in Okemos, Michigan, introduced me to Chi Running in 2006.  I have considered myself a Chi Runner ever since; running injury free since then.

I'm not sure I can express the depth of my sincerity when I say I am a rabid Chi Runner   When I decided to run the 2012 Chicago Marathon, I decided to train using your Chi Marathon training program.  The new book is awesome, and I have recommended it to many of my running friends.

The information contained in Chi Marathon is nothing short of magical.  Every page, every chapter seemed to hit the mark.  I understand much of the material was presented in the first book, but for some reason it all came together with greater clarity in Chi Marathon, and each week I found myself improving my form, my pace... and my enjoyment and confidence.

My Chicago Marathon experience on Oct. 7th was the best I could have hoped for.  I am 62 years old, and ran my first marathon @ age 55.  Since then I have run 25+ half marathons, many 5K's and 2012 Chicago was my 5th marathon.  Until Chicago, I have never been able to break 5 hours; nor finish my marathons feeling good.  Since 2006 I have been obscessed with reaching my goal of "anything under 4:59:59".

For Chicago I downloaded Podrunner music with a 180bpm tempo.  The music kept me totally focused on form, lean, footstrike, relaxing, and conserving energy.  I sailed to the finish feeling fresh in 4:54:56.  I could have run further, and a little faster.  I had minimal soreness post race, and comfortably ran 3 days later.  I haven't been able to wipe the smile of my face since.  Thank you for such a wonderful gift. The Chi Running technique is truly revolutionary, and I thank you for sharing it.

Cheryl Hansen

At the age of 60, I finally read the ChiRunning book and discovered my cadence was way too slow, which meant I was overstriding and hitting on my heels too much. I re-engineered my form according to the book, and I literally can not believe the results. My left hamstring was still weak and sore when I started this new approach, but it actually became stronger as I practiced!  After just one month of ChiRunning, I can recover from a 14 to 16-mile run in just one day, instead of 3. I have had no hints of injuries in my training, I even added some steeper downhill routes that used to kill my knees ... not any more!  

My sincere thanks to Mr. Dreyer and ChiRunning for giving my running a new life, when I was at the point of giving it all up!

Sincerely,

Bob - Utah