Danny Dreyer, a 35-year veteran of ultra marathons and an impressive track record of running achievements, created this method after studying and applying certain principles of T’ai Chi to running.

This new revolutionary running method, created by Danny in 1997, is sweeping with success the United States and Europe. This method is called ChiRunning.
The base of ChiRunning comes from the one of the corner stones of T’ai Chi, the principle of “needle in cotton”. T’ai Chi is a martial art which focuses on going with the flow of energy, by being relaxed and aligned with it.But don’t worry; you don’t have to study T’ai Chi in order to learn ChiRunning! In fact ChiRunning is within the reach of all runners; from beginners and seasoned runners to injured runners, as well as many top athletes who have adapted ChiRunning as their running form.

The advantages of ChiRunning

ChiRunning has helped many people, from beginners to cross country runners to triathletes to professional and top athletes. Whether you are just beginning a running program or training for a marathon, fun run, or triathlon it will help you run better, further, and without injury, for less effort.

The focuses of ChiRunning is to help reduce or eliminate injury and pain such as: knee pain, hip pain, IT Band Syndrome (ITB), hamstring pulls, Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, soreness and fatigue. Conditioning your mind is just as important as conditioning your body.

The ChiRunning approach helps you build a healthy body, instead of breaking it down from overuse and abuse caused by bad running form. Chi-Running delivers you a solution to run with Energy Efficiency and Injury Prevention.

ChiRunning offers the chance to advance into a running method that is pain free, prevents injuries and energy efficient and allows an efficient, economical running form that gets results. Running becomes a relaxing, enjoyable, safe and healthy sport

How does it work?

So ChiRunning takes some T’ai Chi principles and bases its technique on postural alignment combined with muscular relaxation. This concept consists of aligning your body, which represents the “needle” and relaxing your peripherals (arms and legs) which represent the “cotton”. As a result, you have energy efficient, injury free, bio-mechanically correct running. In the method of ChiRunning, the runner is letting his or her legs land under, or slightly behind, their center of mass.With this principle, it is possible to run in a way that is powerful, yet fluid. It also is based on two main themes: Injury Prevention and Energy Efficiency.

Injury Prevention: Imagine the damage to the tissues, joints, ligaments that are caused by the shock of landing with your heels out in front of you. Every time you land with a heel strike, you're essentially putting on the brakes with every step. ChiRunning avoids this by reducing impact to almost zero and running in a way that is really “body-friendly” and doesn’t “beat up” or abuse the body by shocks and jolts to the body as is caused by traditional running style.

Energy Efficiency: When your body is aligned, relaxed and tilted forward, gravity pulls you along. By having your muscles relaxed, and by going along with the laws of nature, the result is in an enormous reduction in muscle usage and fatigue. Now, imagine running with a slight forward lean, allowing gravity to pull you forward…your feet momentarily landing underneath you, in a mid-foot strike, and your legs flowing out behind you with each stride. Can you imagine the difference? The reduction in perceived effort level is 80-90%.

Runners and triathletes discovering and learning the ChiRunning technique are all enjoying a better running style, not getting injured and being able to achieve more due to the reduced overall effort required to run any distance. As a bonus they are also benefiting from the more profound discovery of a more centered and mindful approach to life.

Turn your running around, run with the flow of energy, not against it… By using the laws of the Universe to your advantage, and letting your running become a way to create health for your whole being, the potential for success and enjoyment is immense. Let ChiRunning help you focus your mind, lift your spirit and open up your flow of chi.

What people are saying about ChiRunning in Sydney:

“Thanks again for your workshop, I found it to be both interesting and informative and thought that your Instruction was very professional… I am really happy with what I have learned and I believe that Chi running will be a part of my life now. Thanks!” (October 2007) Natalie.

I finally achieved my goal; at the Central Coast Marathon I finally ran a sub 100 minute half marathon; 99:37. I have been trying to achieve that goal since two years and am sure that ChiRunning has more than helped me achieve that. (December 2007) Natalie J,  Club runner, (Castle Hill, N.S.W)

I have had a great time and have learnt loads. I had read the book which was probably a bonus as the workshop brought the book alive and I came away understanding the basics behind what to do… Coach J-R was patient as I took some time to grasp some of the ideas but it was fun and his feedback was delivered with tact and compassion.

I am delighted as I was able to chi run to the metronome by the end of the 121 session and at a pace about which I have only ever dreamed. My first goal is to do a sub hour 10K.No shin splint pain, no poorly knees (which is why I am doing it on recommendation of my physio) I am aware of my ankles today but think that may be from the lean.

I am so glad that we met. I am enthused about running for the first time ever in my life. I have no hesitation in recommending you to others. I have really enjoyed the sessions and am going away believing that I can be a chi runner rather than a plodder!  What can I say - if you are in NSW I would not hesitate to recommend J-R ...  (Sarah D, visitor in Sydney from London)

Hi JR thanks for Saturday am very inspired to get my running form right!!!!!...Thanks again I am very excited about the possibilities with chi running.  (Kirsten, Melbourne)

Hi JR I would like to thank you for your professional approach to the course last Saturday under what were difficult circumstances weather wise.
I enjoyed the day and the participation in the course and feel I gained quite a bit from your instruction. I have watched through the video a couple of times and agree that I need to work on the lean (or lack of one).

I went for a 14km run this morning and practiced the focuses (or attempted to anyway) I did notice though that while I thought . I was actually running slower than I normally do my time for the 14km was roughly the same (60min) but the perceived effort was much lower. I will keep you advised as to my progress with the Chi Running. (Richard Garnett, Garnett Solicitors)

Find out more and enquire about a ChiRunning class near you now, as well as one to one or small group classes and great informal ChiRuns that are happening!

NEW! ChiRunning coaching by internet! Wow!

Send in your ChiRunning training videos and get coached on your form by internet!

Yes, this great new service will allow you to subscribe to my new coaching service by internet.

So how is this possible?

Easy; It’s the ideal way for anyone to learn or improve upon their ChiRunning form.

Here’s the deal;

Send in any amount of 2 minute video clips in WMV. file or similar with a short email explaining your focus or question concerning the video. You can send in as many 2 minute video clips as you want!!! In return you’ll receive a detailed analysis of the focus in the video clip, with pertinent advice on how to improve, what to watch out for, as well as guidelines and advice and focuses to work on to be able to progress your ChiRunning endeavors. You can even call me and discuss as we watch the same video clip.

Find out more about this great innovative service and get experienced and professional help from Australia’s original and experienced ChiRunning coach.

Learn more and subscribe to this great service.

Visit the ChiRunning Shop