Wednesday 22 February 2012

Chi Running & Chi Walking Meets Cork

Folks I'm re-commencing my free chi running and chi walking practice meets this Saturday 25th February for those of you who have attended a workshop with me.

This is a great opportunity for you to progress your use of the chi technique, ask me about any challenges you have and fine tune the key focuses.

Session is from 10.30am-12.00am.

Remember this is a free post workshop support service, so make the most of it and enjoy the gradual progress process.

Please note the Chi Running & Chi Walking Practice meets take place in Cork Ireland.


Sunday 19 February 2012

Posture for running and walking

Incorporating the posture you learn on the chi workshop into your daily life, like standing in a queue, walking around the shops to mowing the lawn will help you seamlessly bring the posture into your running or walking. Remember it's gradual progress and practice. Good posture will enhance energy flow through the body, increase lung capacity by up to thirty percent, stop bending at the waist (a cause of lumbar pain) and avoid lateral hip movement (a cause of ITB problems).

Monday 13 February 2012

Walking to lose weight

Not ready to jog or have no interest in jogging but want to get active, fit and lose weight?

Then come and learn the chi walking and FIT WALK training to shed those pounds and get you fit. You'll feel absolutely energised.

Years ago I used to be a regular walker but to my disappointment I never lost a pound, but then I realised why this was when I considered the level of intensity I was walking at.  Now I categorise walking on three levels of intensity...

1. the 'strolling walk' with pets, or catching up and spending quality time with family and friends.
2. the 'maintenance walk' where you go out for a walk to keep the body active and get your daily exercise to work off your daily calory intake. (This is what I was doing for years).
3. the 'Fit Walk' where you go out for a fitness walk (just like a jogger) working up to a good cardio work out and burning calories.

Now don't get me wrong, 1 & 2 above are great as you're keeping active, but if you really want to get fit and lose weight then number 3 is the way to go. The reason being that levels 1 & 2 keep you active and contribute to maintaining your weight but they won't necessarily help you lose weight (unless you're on a diet) because of their low level of intensity. However, level 3 is a high intensity walk which makes all the difference. In less than two months I dropped two sizes using this training without dieting.

As part of the chi walking workshops I teach participants how to FIT WALK.  Click here for workshop details.

Saturday 11 February 2012

How to get Fit & Lose Weight with Chi Walking

If you want to get fit, tone up & lose weight then come & learn how to FIT WALK the chi way....

On my Chi Walking workshops I will teach you the chi walking technique and how to go on a great Fit Walk where you work up to a 150 cadence cardio walk, the same pace as many joggers!

I will teach you how to work up from a warm up pace, incrementally working your cadence level up to 150 getting you heart pumping and ensuring a good workout.

With the chi technique you are working 50:50 upper:lower body so this ensures a good allover body workout. 

You will notice your walking is effortless, much more pleasant and you will feel energised afterwards. Pencil in 4 Fit Walks (approx 2 - 3 miles each walk) a week and you will notice your clothes getting loser and your weight dropping.

For upcoming Workshops click here.




Friday 10 February 2012

Walking & Running is so Therapeutic

A couple of weeks back I nearly broke my thumb, as a result I injured my hand quite badly. Since then I haven't been feeling well enough to get out walking or running which made me quite deflated as I'm used to regular weekly exercise.

After another visit to the doctors and another appointment for the fracture clinic, I came home in lousy form at the prospect of a longer than expected recuperation period. I was not a happy bunny!

But you know what, I put on my walking gear and decided to head out for a walk, injured hand or not and I enjoyed a lovely fast paced 3 mile walk returning refreshed, clear minded, lighthearted and upbeat! I think its just amazing how a walk or run can be so therapeutic, not only is it good for keeping fit, trim and healthy, it's just fantastic for our mental health too. 

So don't let an injury like mine get you down, if you can get out there and walk or do a slow jog, do it and feel all the better for it. And to top it all off, my hand feels better because while I was walking I was pumping my blood around the body and improving the circulation in my hand which has been bad since the injury. So lets hope getting out there will help speed up the healing process.