Posture Correction Tips
Since the release of the ChiRunning and ChiWalking books, I’ve made a few changes in how I’ve taught some aspects of the posture section. So, rather than waiting for the changes to come out in the 2nd Edition of the ChiRunning book (to be released Spring ’09), I’m going to jump ahead and let you in on the most up-to-date way of aligning your posture. posture correction I’ve been aligning myself this new way for about 6 months now and seen it to be a much easier and quicker way to get aligned while walking or running. If we follow ChiRunning and ChiWalking books then we have to stand with out feet at a distance equal to our hip width and must avoid knees locking. After that, we go to straightening your upper spine and this is where one of the changes comes in. Just place one of your hand at your belly and place thumb and middle finger of other hand under the collarbone. Now pull you down with lower hand and use upper hand to straighten your upper body. Now just use your index finger to hold your chin upward and to align it with head and neck region. posture correcting This is where I began to see problems in the method, because some people have long necks and short fingers or visa versa and it just wasn’t working the same for every body I came across. It is possible that one man would have too low chin while the other would have too high. Another reason for making this change is that it’s awkward to use this method of aligning yourself once you’re moving. So, I needed to come up with a way that everyone would be able to get their head in the right alignment without the use of their hands. You can see it is really easy. No put the hand on the neck back and brush with the fingers in an upside direction. While you’re doing this, lift up on the back of your head, like you’re trying to reach for the sky with the crown of your head. This motion will stretch all the muscles on the back of your neck and allow your chin to naturally stay low. You can also strengthen your upper spine area with no use of your hands for it. Today every person present in my walking and running classes follow this exercise easily. You have to begin with your correct poor posture status and then move on to rising your head slowly which will make your spine straight and lengthen your neck back area. Such focus of upward motion will help in straightening the posture along with shifting pressure from footstep to upwards eventually making your footsteps lighter. Having your neck in the correct position has an effect on the rest of your spine all the way down to your tailbone. It will make easier for you to level your pelvic and help to relax your shoulders. It is the crucial step of ‘C’ shape which is a concept I am working on myself not taken from ChiRunning book. While having a look over ChiRunning Posture Image you will see that ‘C’ shape is super imposed on it subject. Look the direction of arrows which start from T12/L1 position and then move oppositely. The arrows on the upper section of the “C” shape go up (lengthening the back of the neck) and then down the front side of the head, ending at the chin (which is held down). If you see the lower section of ‘C’ shape you will see arrows pointing towards the tail bone, returning back to pelvic area and end at the point of public bone. Practice getting yourself into the “C” shape whenever you feel your posture slipping…whether you’re sitting at your desk, standing, walking or running. You will get great feeling of having your mind and body at one place with no slipping or pulling downwards. Your posture matters a lot in your structural positioning and in your movements. When you have strong physical center, it has a direct influence on your mental and emotional well being. Practice your posture as if your quality of life depends on it, because it does.










