Spiritual Experience – Weight Loss Diet Solutions

What happens when you combine running with the practice of T’ai Chi? The answer: chi running. When people first hear about it, they often ask, “What is chi running?”. Chirunning, as it is also called, is a relatively new way of running that focuses on form and keeps you relaxed and meditative while running. Danny Dreyer, who popularized chi running, claims that it will result in less pain and fewer injuries.

What is the Chi Running Approach?

Chi running is mindful running that focuses on every single movement of the body. Its approach is based on the principles of T’ai Chi, yoga and Pilates. Chirunning works with the core muscles and harnesses the mind for more effortless running.

Chi Running as a Running Technique

As a running technique, it teaches runners to move in a more natural and efficient way. The traditional way of running focuses on power and strength for faster running. Chi running, on the other hand, focuses on efficiency with the use of a midfoot strike rather than the heel strike in traditional running technique. A midfoot strike is believed to more biomechanically efficient, resulting in faster running speed with less effort.

Chi Running as a Philosophy

Chi running is more than a running technique. It is also a philosophy of running. It is about running in a relaxed and meditative way. Like T’ai Chi and yoga, chi running provides a spiritual experience and integrates mind and body.

What is Involved in Chi Running?

In chi running, mindfulness means being aware of your body while you run. You pay attention to everything including how your feet strike the ground, your posture, how you breathe, etc. Chirunning requires deep, full breathing so that your body works more efficiently and is relaxed with adequate oxygen.

It’s important to maintain a good posture and remain relaxed while running. Normally people tense their muscles when they exert effort to run faster. This is completely against the principles of chi running. Keeping an upright and natural posture with your muscles relaxed lowers the risk of injury. Good posture allows your body’s chi or natural energy to flow smoothly while poor posture diminishes chi and tires you out.

Does Chi Running Work?

According to the proponents of chi running, this technique minimizes pain and lowers the risk of injury while running. There are no scientific studies to substantiate these claims, although harnessing the mind and body to improve your running technique could enable you to run faster and longer.

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Fasting Tips to Ensure Success

Whether you’re fasting to lose weight, cleanse your body or for a spiritual experience, you’ll want to do what you can to ensure that the fast is successful. When a fast is successful you can see it in your eyes and skin and feel it inside your body. Your eyes will be clear and bright, inside organs will feel renewed and begin to work properly ? and your outside organ (skin) will glow. These fasting tips should lead you in the right direction, but you should also make sure you’re following the directions of the fasting plan you choose.

Fasting Tips to Ensure Success

One of the main ways you can ensure fasting success is to select a time to fast when your life is least demanding. Stress and a noisy and chaotic environment will keep you from focusing on the fast and how you’re reacting to it. You’ll need to slow down while you’re fasting, meditate, keep a journal and allow no distractions that will pull you away from the fasting plan.

Don’t begin with a fasting plan you can’t possibly keep up with. If you’re new to fasting, don’t begin with a strict water diet and plan to be on it for days. A better plan would be one that allows fruit juices and fruits and vegetables. As long as you’re eating something, you won’t be as apt to become discouraged and quit the fast. If you enjoyed the fast and the benefits received you can later move on to a more rigorous plan.

Is Fasting Deprivation?

Fasting is the height of deprivation for some ? and a new-found friend for others. If you tell friends and family about the upcoming fasting plan you may have a different reaction than what you think. Some might warn that you’ll become ill or a number of other reasons that you should quit the fast immediately. Others may simply be skeptical of the process. Avoid negative comments and thoughts about the fast by keeping the plan mostly to yourself. If you follow these fasting tips and the instructions for the type of fast you chose, you should do well.

Prepare your body for the fasting process by cutting down on the amount of calories you consume. If you’re used to eating lots of fast foods, carbohydrates and sugar-laden foods, cut them drastically before the fast. Your body will be more ready to accept the nutrients and vitamins contained in your new diet. Also, avoid caffeine, alcohol and nicotine.

You’ll need a good juicer for a juice fast and then afterward for creating your own. Juices at the supermarket contain additives and preservatives that you won’t want to contaminate your newly-cleansed body. The same goes for fruits, vegetables and teas ? be sure they’re fresh and organically grown.

The most important of these fasting tips is to see your health care provider for a complete checkup before embarking on a fast plan or any other diet that might make your system react in a negative manner. If you already have a health problem, such as diabetes, it’s even more important for you to have a checkup before beginning to fast.