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Developed by nationally ranked ultra marathoner Danny Dreyer, the ChiRunning® and ChiWalking® techniques focus on improving postural alignment and biomechanics to greatly reduce the risk of injuries, aches and pains, and soreness. At the same time, the techniques provide a framework to practice focusing the mind, engaging the core, and relaxing the rest of the body. These skills will benefit you in all aspects of your life, not just your running or walking program. The ChiRunning® and ChiWalking® techniques can be beneficial to anyone, but they can be particularly of value to:
Improved Postural Alignment for Runners & Walkers
Learn tips to improve postural alignment to help you run or walk with greater ease and less risk of injury. Workshop will draw from principles of ChiRunning® & ChiWalking®, and will also include gentle yoga poses and simple breathing techniques. All levels are welcome, but participants should be able to get up and down from the floor with ease.
- Wednesday, March 13, 2024 from 6:00pm-8:00pm Pacific Time
- Online via Zoom
- Registration is now open through Portland Community College's Community Education/Recreation & Wellness Department. Register online here, or call 971.722.8888. The PCC Course Registration Number (CRN) is 12839.
ChiWalking® Half-Day Introductory Workshop
Learn to walk with greater ease and less risk of injury by improving postural alignment and patterns of movement. Develop skills to focus your mind, move from your center, and walk in a manner that is both strong and relaxed.
- Next workshop will be offered Saturday, May 18, 2024 from noon-4:00pm Pacific Time
- In-person at PCC's Sylvania Campus in SW Portland.
- Most of the workshop will take place outdoors at PCC's track. Dependent on the weather, portions may take place indoors in a large gymnasium.
- Registration will be through Portland Community College's Community Education/ Recreation & Wellness Department. Check back here for registration details. In the meantime, private and small group sessions are available by appointment.
ChiRunning® Half-Day Introductory Workshop
Learn to run with greater ease and less risk of injury by improving postural alignment and patterns of movement. Develop skills to focus your mind, move from your center, and run in a manner that is both strong and relaxed.
- Next workshop will be offered Saturday, May 11, 2024 from noon-4:00pm Pacific Time
- In-person at PCC's Sylvania Campus in SW Portland.
- Most of the workshop will take place outdoors at PCC's track. Dependent on the weather, portions may take place indoors in a large gymnasium.
- Registration will be through Portland Community College's Community Education/ Recreation & Wellness Department. Check back here for registration details. In the meantime, private and small group sessions are available by appointment.
Individual & Small Group Sessions Available by Appointment
Whether you're a new or returning client, finetune your running or walking form with an individual or small group ChiRunning® or ChiWalking® session with Alice.
- For new individual clients, schedule a pair of 2-hour sessions, ideally spaced 1-2 weeks apart. Cost is $120 per 2-hour session.
- Sliding scale rates for 4-hour small group workshop. (2 people = $140 per person; 3 people = $130 per person; 4 people = $120 per person; 5 to 7 people = $110 per person; 8 to 10 people = $100 per person.)
- For returning individual clients, schedule 1-hour Refresher Sessions with Alice for $75 each time. Discounted pricing will be offered if you schedule with a friend.
- Most sessions are held at either Duniway Park track in SW Portland or Grant Park track in NE Portland. For returning clients interested in focusing on hill and trail running or hiking technique, we might meet in Forest Park or another wooded area.
- Contact Alice at alice@easeofmotion.net or at 503.962.9994 to schedule.
Portland ChiRunning® Meetup Group
On a periodic basis, Alice offers free informational sessions through the Portland ChiRunning® Meetup Group. These events typically include a brief overview of the ChiRunning® technique, a mindful approach to running aimed at helping us learn to move with greater ease and less risk of injury. Alice provides participants with a preliminary critique of their running form, as well as some initial tips to help them on their way to improved running technique. The group runs short distances at a relaxed pace. Anyone from new runners to accomplished endurance athletes will benefit. Individuals who are experienced with ChiRunning® are also welcome to attend to refresh their skills.
- Next date TBD
- Sessions are typically held at Grant Park track in NE Portland
- Check back here in early 2024 for future dates
Ease of Motion Training Project
Join Alice and other Ease of Motion community members in applying ChiRunning® training and technique principles as you train together for an event.
- Inaugural targeted event will be the Timberline Half Marathon, Sunday, June 9, 2024 around Timothy Lake on Mt. Hood.
- First step is to register here for the Sunday, June 9 half marathon before it fills. (From the "Teams" drop-down menu, choose "Ease of Motion Training Project", and enter the passcode EaseofMotion2024! You'll get a small discount on your registration.)
- Team members may also choose to participate in either the full or half marathons on Saturday, June 8, 2024, and Alice will plan to be there to cheer you on. She'll be racing the Sunday section of the half marathon, though.
- Second step: Please email Alice at alice@easeofmotion.net to let her know once you've registered for the race and joined our team. Please include your cell phone number as well. That way you'll receive communications about team training events and other logistics.
- Third step is to register here for a virtual informational session about the Ease of Motion Training Project, whether you've already registered for the race and joined our team or are still deciding. This free informational session will be held Wednesday, January 10, 2024 from 6:30pm-7:30pm.
- Training will be drawn from the ChiRunning® Intermediate Half Marathon Training Plan, which Alice has used in preparation for many races. This 12-week plan, aimed at helping you train and race with greater ease and less risk of injury, is unique in that it incorporates form focuses suggestions in addition to the more typical mileage progressions, speed workouts, and hill repeats. It's availabe in both an online format and a print format. Alice will be happy to consult with you periodically about adapting the plan to fit your schedule and your needs.
- The 12-week training period will begin March 17, 2024.
- To help set up up for success, pre-season resources will be offered beginning in mid-January. They'll include a series of several online Yoga for Runners sequences led by Alice. Depending on the weather and other commitments, many Saturday mornings from 8am-9am between January 20 and March 16 she'll also host pre-season ChiRunning Form Focus Sessions, initially at NE Portland's Grant Park track and in later weeks on hills and trails in NW Portland's Forest Park.
- Once the 12-week training schedule is underway in mid-March, Alice will host group training runs most Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm, as well as group long runs most Saturday mornings (and occasional Sundays instead) at 7:30am. Group training runs and group long runs will take place in Forest Park.
- Aside from your race registration fee of about $40 (click here to register) and the roughly $35-$40 cost of purchasing one of the training plans (on-line or printed booklet) from ChiLiving, Inc., there is no upfront charge to participate in the Ease of Motion Training Project. However, as you participate in events or receive coaching advice, Alice will appreciate occasional donations to Ease of Motion, Inc. to support her work.
- Danny Dreyer's book ChiMarathon: The Breakthrough Natural Running Program for a Pain-Free Half Marathon and Marathon is another excellent resource that Alice will be drawing from. Maybe add it to your Holiday wish list?
- Call Alice at 503.962.9994 or email her at alice@easeofmotion.net if you have questions. Join us!