Sisu Project - Wellness Running

Rza On Wisdom, Chi, Peace and much more

2010-06-02T08:25:00.000-07:00

The Barefoot Running Health Secret

2010-05-28T16:36:00.000-07:00

Many broken down, injured runners are finding their stride again by simply kicking off their shoes and running barefoot. Barefoot running has provided many runners the opportunity to run pain and injury free. A simple google search will yield enough reading material to keep you busy for at least a few weeks. Barefoot running has been said to strengthen the feet, improve posture, soften foot landing, improve proprioception, and improve focus.

In all my research of barefoot running I have seen hardly any discussion about grounding. For the latest research on grounding check out the book Earthing by Clint Ober. After reviewing the research in the book, and experimenting on myself as well observing the effects of several others, it is clear to me that grounding can provide tremendous health benefits including; deeper sleep, reduction in stiffness and pain, greater mental clarity, improved digestion and much more.

When your skin touches the earth your body is flooded with electrons that help eliminate free radicals and reduce chronic inflammation. I suspect this is one of the reasons barefoot runners experience a dramatic reduction in pain after just a few barefoot runs. You don't need to run barefoot to get these benefits. You can simply sit outside with the soles of your feet touching the earth. This is probably why jumping in the ocean feels so great, why yogis meditate in caves, and why many pregnant women instinctually want to go barefoot.

The risk of sitting outside with your feet on the grass is incredibly low, while the reward is very high. Give it a try and see what happens for you. With all the damage we are doing to ourselves and our environment it is essential we reconnect with the earth, our loving mother, who has birthed us and provided us boundless beauty and life.

What are your experiences with barefoot running and/or grounding?

ChiRunning Simplified Video

2010-03-19T08:19:00.000-07:00

A great introduction or refresher on the basic principles of ChiRunning. Video provided by my good friend David Stretanski.

Having One Night Stands with Ho-Ho's

2010-03-10T18:23:00.001-08:00

Hi Positive Eaters,

The title was absolutely meant to shock and awe you all! When I first started doing health coaching, I delivered this talk called Building a Positive Relationship with Food. This was a fun talk that centered around the truly intimate relationship we share with our food. What we eat involves taking an external, physical thing and making it a part of us. What can be more intimate than that?

During the talk I likened eating fast food to a "one night stand". Think about it! We run into some glitzy and overly fake setting and pick up a juicy fake food item and rush to experience an instantaneous few moments of pleasure. The salt and the fat is just right and its texture helps it glide smoothly down our esophagus. We finish it off with a creamy sugary substance that puts us into a brief state of bliss. Then only a few moments later we are wondering what we just did.

I believe eating should be an enjoyable experience everytime we pick up a fork. I am often challenged on this point. People tell me that if they followed their bliss in regards to eating, they would scarf down ho-ho's and eat ice cream all day long. This may be true for the short term. Do food choices like these provide us with any lasting joy?

When we deprive ourselves of valuable nutrients and we don't pay attention to what's on the inside of our food, we often miss out. I am not speaking just of the thousands of beneficial minerals, vitamins and micronutrients found in clean, natural and whole foods, I am talking about our sense of self respect. When we eat real foods that we love it fosters a deep connection to our bodies. We feel nourished down to the core of our being. I thoroughly believe this stimulates thoughts and feelings within us that are self affirming.

Few would argue that the foundation of a joyful life is an abundance of true and meaningful relationships. Why not start with your food. Nature adorned it with pretty and vibrant colors just to attract you and you won't need to worry about rejection...well unless you are allergic to that particular food. The point is to enjoy food that makes you feel good all the way down through your head, heart and toes. Eat and let yourself feel wonderful about how well you are treating your body with this magnificent food you are eating. Do this and maybe you can avoid the guilt you feel when you step on the wrapper you left on the floor from your recent fling with Little Debbie.

Stay Positive,

Matthew

"disabled"

2010-02-23T15:43:00.000-08:00

Hey SISU and friends,

Check out this great video on "SISU"

~Caitlyn

A Positive Blog

2010-02-16T09:12:00.000-08:00

Hey All,

I found this blog...
I thought I'd post it here because it's right up our alley!

ENJOY!

http://goodfoodbetterlife.blogspot.com/

-Caitlyn

Uncondional Love by Dr. John Douillard

2010-02-12T19:03:00.000-08:00

This is an article by Dr. John Douillard, the author of Body, Mind, Sport...a great book that turns the old paradigm of athletics on its head. Here is a great article on uncondional love.

Learn to Love Unconditionally
by Dr. John Douillard

Have you ever asked yourself, "Have I become a different person?"

Is there a deeper more real version of yourself waiting for the right time to show up - but for the most part letting that person out is just way too risky?!

It's Time To Drop the Old Layers of Protection
Maybe when you were three years old, someone hurt your feelings and to survive you needed to protect yourself. To do this you employed the services of your mind to help you create a personality that would keep you safe. Maybe you became the class clown, a straight A student or Mom's best helper - the better you played these roles the more they liked you. You were safe, loved and appreciated - who could ask for more?

We are all playing a lead role in a movie made by our minds designed to protect us from getting hurt and we try very hard to make a movie that everyone will like. We casted ourselves in this part when we were young and we are still reading the same lines from the same script in that same movie thirty of forty years later. Instead of pleasing our parents we find ourselves pleasing our boss, our spouse and even our kids because the script says if I do these things they will like me.

Love With Expectations Hurts
Our minds have convinced us that in order to feel loved we have to continue to perform - even into a state of exhaustion. Soon we become resentful because while bending over backwards for everyone else, sooner or later they will let you down. "For crying out loud! I do so much for them, you would think they would show some appreciation!" Or, we find ourselves saying, "If they would change, or just stop doing this or do more of that I would be willing to love them so much more." When we expect everyone in our world to change or love us back as a return on the investment we made to them, we are setting ourselves up for disappointment and disaster.

Star In Your Own Movie - And Make It A Good One!
The mind has created this world of illusion to keep us safe at a time when our senses, emotions and intellect were not yet developed. When we were two, we needed this type of protection, but now at thirty-two we can become the director of our movie and change the script, create a new scene and even take on that role that you were always meant to play - your real, vulnerable, loving and powerful self. Living a life without access to this part of yourself will be, in due time, a very depressing experience.

Your senses will only offer temporary pleasure, emotions will only distract you from the yearning to be yourself for only so long until - sooner or later - you have to step into this new role. The problem is that the mind has convinced you that you can't do this. "If you just be yourself and love everyone unconditionally and they don't love you back you will be hurt devastated, it is way too risky. Just play it safe and stick with what has been working."

The mind will use your senses and emotions to distract you. It will use fear to make sure you never cross over and drive this chariot to the true, real and powerful part of yourself. It has convinced you that you are not good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, tall enough, skinny enough so you better stay put, safely living out a life in the illusion of the mind.

Be Happy Even When Something 'Bad' Happens
In the world of illusion we can only be happy when something good happens, if something bad happens we become unhappy. In truth, the joy of our soul is available to all of us, all the time. It is not dependant on something happening - it is the expression of our true nature -- and by definition, truth never changes. It is the emotions that change, or mood changes but who we really are is always there for us.

A flower, for example, doesn't count the number of bees that come nor does it pump up its smell just when you walk by. Its nature, as is ours, is to expand itself no matter if anyone ever loves it back. We think that we will feel better when Mr. Right comes along and loves us, fully making all our dreams come true. The reality is that this kind of love will never satisfy you.

Please try this exercise:
Take a paper and write a love letter to someone you love fully, completely. Someone you trust with all your heart. Tell them all the ways that you love and appreciate them - really go for it. While writing it know that they will never read this letter - it is for your eyes only. As you write it - become aware of how you feel writing this letter. You will see that as you write this letter you will actually feel loved, appreciated, cared for and even feel important.

All the things we so desperately think we need from someone else to make us feel good, we actually experience all by ourselves when we give love or like freely - without any concern that they will read it and then love you back.

"I love you --- but it is no concern of yours"
This is the game the mind has been playing on us for all these years. To truly win we must taste the vulnerability of true love by allowing ourselves to love without the need for any return of investment.

"I love you --- but it is no concern of yours" means I now know that what I really seek is to love rather than to be loved.

ChiWalking Up the Steps

2010-02-05T12:55:00.001-08:00

Corpretic Lifestyle V. 1

2010-02-05T12:53:00.000-08:00

Positive Signs

2010-01-20T16:41:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone,

I wanted to write a post on being positive. I post on this topic often because I feel people become confused by this concept. People ask "how can you just be happy all the time." Or..."thinking happy thoughts won't help all the people starving in the world." These people are absolutely right. However, being positive is not about forcing ourselves to be happy.

No one is happy all the time...the disturbing images coming out of Haiti are enough to sink even the most hardened person's heart. Holding hands and visualizing sunshine and butterflies while reading fairy tales will not pull desperate people out of the rubble. This type of catastrophe does call for people to be positive.

My brand of positivism is best displayed with an addition symbol +. When we add to something we are making a positive contribution. I was not a stellar math student but I did grasp this concept. Whenever we add or move forward me are making positive progress. I understand people will object, stating "if we put more guns on the street we are adding something but it results in tragedy." Once again this person would be correct. However, I am sure if we write out the rest of the equation we will end up with less than we started. People will lose their lives either to violence or to jail. True positivity occurs when our actions, our thoughts, our words add to the totality of human existence. There is no one on Earth who can finish out the whole equation, so we move forward in faith.

Even the smallest gesture can add to the sum. I contributed $15 to the Red Cross Haiti Relief Effort. This was matched by the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and I am sure many of my fellow classmates followed suit. In contributed with hope that my positive action would add to the efforts in the embattled country. If I simply turned off the television listened to some John Tesh music and thought about skipping through a magical forest, my gesture would at best be labeled null. I guess I would be one more supporter of John Tesh's lovely piano music....but in my estimation would have done very little.

Being positive is about progress. Each of us can either help one another evolve and in turn evolve ourselves...or we can live survival of the fittest in which each of us takes and takes until nothing is left. I believe human beings got to this advanced state of development through their positive intentions. Call me delusional but I believe it to be so. I would encourage each of you to remember that every action carries with it this potential. When I close my emails with "stay positive", I do not mean "think happy thoughts", I mean continue to evolve, to grow and to contribute to the world around you.

Stay Positive,

Matthew

To contribute to the Haiti Relief Effort see links below

Red Cross

https://american.redcross.org/site/Donation2?idb=1457186616&df_id=4437&4437.donation=form1&JServSessionIdr004=iziao0c2t1.app196a

Bill Clinton and George Bush Effort

http://www.clintonbushhaitifund.org

International Rescue Committee

http://www.theirc.org

So Long, Charlie

2009-12-21T15:44:00.000-08:00

Many good pieces of wisdom from Charles Gibson on his last broadcast:

--Jeff

The "Expert" Advice we all need

2009-12-16T09:25:00.001-08:00

Hello SP,

Since I started this blog, I try to remind all of you that I am not an "expert." I am just on a journey to make the act of eating a positive experience for myself and the people I come in contact with. Given the holiday season, you will soon see all sorts of "experts" coming out of the woodwork offering all sorts of "expert" advice. These "experts" want to tell you all about your body and how you should treat it.

I hold a high amount of regard for people who possess a large body of knowledge and wisdom. This displays a commitment and enthusiasm towards a specific subject of interest. I also believe that sharing this knowledge and enthusiam is important for the world. However, holding onto a body of knowledge and using it as a source of power to control people's actions and behaviors is absurd.

This idea was first propogated by Plato, who felt that an intellectual elite (meaning himself and his friends) were to be privy to truth and knowledge and responsible for disseminating this at "appropriate times" to the general population. This may or may not work out. I am not sure...I unfortunately did not fall into the ranks of the elite and do not know Who Shot JFK or if extra terrestials actual run the whole show.

I do know this. The intelligence of the human organism is provided in its entirety at birth. The more we learn about ourselves and the more we tune into our own bodies the more we will know how to treat it. This is not to say ignore the work and words of experts. I read and fill myself with their knowledge regularly. I use this is a pathway from brain back into my body. Real wisdom comes from learning and applying it to yourself as an individual.

With nourishment it is important to always make your eating choices "your eating choice". How often do you hear someone say, "I've been eating seaweed all week because Dr. Octagon says it will help me lose weight." Check in with your body...maybe a piece of advice inspires a choice...only your body can tell you if it is right for you. A person is always operating from their own plane. A priest will tell you to seek God, a doctor will give you a prescription or surgery, a nutrititionist will tell you to eat healthier, an energy worker will tell you to balance your chakras all for the same problem. The truth is all these experts can be "right" at the same time..it is you that will decide the path that works best for you. The most powerful educators see themselves as guides and not as an instructor. Even geniuses were once pupils...such people can only be guided in a safe and positive direction. They will reach heights that no instructor can ever lead them.

You are the genius of your own organism. I hope what is written on this blog inspires you to realize this intelligence. Be safe and enjoy your journey!

Stay Positive,

Matthew

Adam's Arthroscopic Surgery

2009-11-15T12:46:00.000-08:00

My second post is regarding my recent injury. I know that some will read out of curiosity. This subject may not be relevant to many of you. I do feel this post is important because I’m hoping to help out (and reach out) to someone who has encountered a similar issue. I know that when I was first told surgery was my best option, I immediately went to Google and searched for anything regarding the left knee. More specifically, the removal of the plica, chondroplasty, and partial medial meniscus tears. In a world wide web full of information, there was actual very little to find. I had several questions regarding recovery, and what I could and could not do. Instead, I found examples which didn’t include any photos or indicate the level of activity of those who created blogs or posts. I have decided to post my story, and hopefully a fellow serious athlete will come across it and find some solace during recovery.

I won’t use my full name, but I’m Adam for those of you who have not yet been introduced. I am a competitive runner, and also enjoy doing several other activities in my free time. I love hockey, wrestling, and skateboarding. Some would say these three activities do not mix. It really doesn’t matter to me, I enjoy doing all three! As a matter of fact, my injury was actually NOT related to any of these. It was the cause of a genetic disposition. Who knew?

First, I will begin by saying I was on crutches for the first 3 days. I was told the day of the surgery, I wouldn’t feel any pain. This is because of the ridiculous amount of drugs you are given in order for the surgery to take place. The second day I was in the worst pain. Pain killers were necessary.

By the end of the week, I was once again mobile. I had the surgery about the time of my midterm exams in college, and only had to miss one of each of my 4 classes. I never fell behind in terms of class work or exams. In fact, one of my teachers was very understanding and allowed me to take the exam at home. About 4 days after the surgery, I was lifting at the gym. I wasn’t walking pretty, but I did all my lifting while sitting on a chair. This was to avoid putting pressure on the knee. Lifting was a serious part of my training. As for core, I am VERY limited. I can only do about half of what I used to be able to largely because most of my exercises involve both legs. I do all that I can at this point.

Three weeks following the surgery, one thing I have noticed is a gain in flexibility in the knee (and leg) with each passing day. The knee specialist told me I would be able to enter a pool after the second week. The reasoning for the two week delay is to avoid infections. The wounds (two holes on each side of the knee) have to close first. I have been pool running for over a week now. I try to simulate my runs in the pool, and have done one workout so far. I simulate my runs with a time goal. This goal is a minimum of 50 minutes to an hour in the pool a day. During this time, I practice the running motions and work my respiratory system by increasing effort in fighting the water’s resistance. I plan on doing at least one pool running workout a week up until I can actually run. During this week, I will also begin physical therapy. The surgeon told me this would be necessary for recovery. I was NOT given permission to use any machines or equipment involving my legs to this point. I think a significant part of the recovery will have to do with following the directions of the doctor. His (or her) word is actually more valuable than anyone. EVEN the physical therapist. There is no such thing as a speedy recovery from this type of surgery. Expect to be out for 3 months, not less. In my case, hopefully not more either. I plan on making a full recovery and will resume normal activities in February. This will mark the end of my 3 month recovery.

I have photos of the operation, and have circled the meniscus tear and scar tissue in blue.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b324/Maleknia/KneeImages.jpg

Eating Healthier?

2009-11-11T19:22:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone! I think it's time we spoke about positive eating. I know this is a subject area you are well versed in. Ever since I've had my surgery approximately 2 1/2 weeks ago, I've had an epiphany in terms of my eating habits. It seems like all the junk foods I would eat without question were no longer appealing to me. Foods such as buffalo wings, steak and cheese subs, or even pasta with alfredo sauce just doesn't seem too appealing anymore. To further add to this, I was obsessed with late night McDonald's trips over the summer. Not only is the time of day terrible (usually around midnight), but all the crap I was ingesting into my system was probably doing more harm than I expected. I had a former teammate of mine in college ask me "how can you eat nothing but crap and still run well?" This question I am still yet to answer. However, could an improvement in my eating habits benefit me in a race? Could all the fast food and empty calories I took in have hindered me from reaching my potential as an athlete? As this is my first post on the SISU Project blog (and my first post on a blog in general) I hope this creates discussion for a matter I am taking seriously. I want to live as long as I can, and live as healthy as possible too. And, I will ask what can I eat that will be high in protein and iron? These two things are essential for my diet as a blood test showed I was deficient in both areas. My only preference is that the food is delicious, and can give me similar joy to the feeling I used to get when I ate a double cheeseburger and fries!

-Adam

5 Best Yoga Poses For Runners

2009-11-10T10:15:00.000-08:00

Yoga is often looked at as a way for runners to stretch tight muscles. Runners tend to gravitate towards power yoga and fast paced vinyasa flow. It’s wonderful to see runners now practicing yoga but this approach of stretching muscles and getting a bonus “workout” is only the tip of the iceberg.

Yoga is a path to relaxation and awareness, two things that should be at the forefront of any runners training program. Many runners, especially competitive high school and college runners experience adrenal burnout from the tremendous amounts of stress placed on their body. The last thing these runners need is another “workout.” What is needed is deep relaxation of the body and mind, allowing the body to repair itself.

Those who practice ChiRunning attempt to minimize the amount of stress they place on the body. Those who practice power running purposely place stress on the body in order to get stronger. The idea is that if you stress the body, and then recover, the body will rebuild itself stronger. In my experience most runners have not maximized their recovery process. The amount of runners I know that have experienced “burnout” is overwhelming. It is time for a better process. We need a better approach.

The recovery process stems from deep relaxation. It goes far beyond “taking an easy day” “going for a recovery run” and eating protein. Below is a list of my five best yoga poses for runners. I suggest finding a good teacher to work with you on these postures as well as researching the postures on your own.

1. Savasana – also known as corpse pose. This is the pose done at the end of class. Many Yogis say this is where the benefit of practice comes. To enter the pose, lie on your back with your legs extended and hands by your waist palms facing up. Bring your heels together and let your toes fall to the side. Close your eyes and relax. Let it go. Let go of any tension you are holding in the body. Just…let…it….go….. This is a great pose to do after you run and stretch. It will help integrate your activity into your body and leave you feeling refreshed for your next run.

2. Childs pose – Childs pose is another deeply relaxing pose. It is done with your shins on the floor, big toes touching, knees spread. Forehead is touching the floor. Your belly will be resting on or between your thighs. If you cannot bring your forehead to the floor use a block to ensure that your forehead is resting on something (this helps foster the relaxation response) arms can be by your side or extended in front of you. Feel your breath flowing into your kidneys and adrenal glands.

3. Meditation posture – Meditation is a way to develop your focus. For most runners I suggest starting in a chair and not lotus position (because of tight hips) Sitting upright in a chair with your feet firmly planted and palms resting in your lap, allow your spine to become straight by pressing up through the crown of your head. You can focus on your breath, a candle flame, picture, word or phrase, sound etc…

4. Legs up the wall pose – bring your hips next to a wall and place your feet above you on the wall while lying flat on your back. Use any blankets or pillows for support. Make sure you are comfortable. This is an inversion for the legs and will help move the waste in your legs through your lymphatic system so you can start each run fresh. This is one pose that many power runners already do, specifically after races and hard workouts. This can be after every run for maximum recovery.

5. Mountain pose – If you practice ChiRunning you are already doing this. It is known as your posture. If you can’t relax in the most basic standing posture, it will be very challenging to relax and more advanced postures and nearly impossible to fully relax when running. You might think you are relaxed when running, but that might be because the endorphins have you feeling so good you don’t notice the tight areas. You should practice this pose as much as possible.

ChiRunning - How long does it take to get it?

2009-11-04T09:30:00.000-08:00

How long does it take to get it? I get this question all the time, and it is a difficult one to answer. In my own experience, I have “gotten it” several different times over the course of my learning journey. We call these “AHA moments.” Those moments where everything clicks and you say “AHA, I got it!” These AHA moments add a tremendous amount of joy to my running practice. As in learning any skill, when things suddenly click, and your brain and body are synched up magic begins to happen…

Like many others, I’ve experienced several AHA moments throughout my ChiRunning practice. I had several when I first read the book, and continue to have them as I run and walk. This is the beauty of ChiRunning, you are constantly learning something about your body, your mind, and your self.

AHA moments come in all forms and sizes. You might have a physical AHA moment, such as feeling gravity pull you forward, rather than using your legs to propel you. One of the more profound AHA moment s for me was an emotional one. It was my senior year of college. I had been practicing ChiRunning for a year, and my college career was coming to an end. As I entered into the championship part of the season I ran a continuous streak of PRs in the 10K (6.2miles) I had an emotional attachment to making the national meet, which requires you run a certain time to qualify. Through my ChiRunning practice I found that by NOT focusing on time, my race times improved DRAMATICALLY.

I ran 32:42, 32:20, 31:52 and 5 days after that 31:15. There was no recovery time needed from these races. The 31:15 was truly a magical race for me. Everything aligned and flowed smooth that day. The entire race was like one giant AHA moment. Although I did run considerably faster than I ever had before, it wasn’t the time I was most happy with, it was the emotional feeling I had inside my body. I was happy and everybody close to me was happy. I was projecting pure joy and relaxation and that was being reflected back to me.

That was in 2005. Close to 5 years later I’m still getting AHA moments. When I’m setting up a training plan for somebody and they ask me, “how long will it take to get it?” I explain to them that many people notice benefits right away. You are likely to experience a few AHA moments in your first session with a certified ChiRunning instructor. If you continue to practice you will continue to grow, and your journey will be a series of one AHA moment after the next. You will "get it" as soon as you start practicing, but there is always more to learn, more to grow, more to see, and more to feel. The important thing is to enjoy the journey and not worry about the destination.

Marathon - Modern Day Ritual

2009-10-29T19:41:00.000-07:00

We often think of rituals as esoteric acts of clandestine groups done in the woods around Halloween. However, a ritual is merely a ceremonious act that is passed on through generations. These acts create connectivity between people within a certain culture. Whether done in private or amongst a large group one feels a sense of union with a greater community. Rituals are often symbolic and can be very simple or complex. In the case of the Marathon, it is a grueling race that tests one physically, mentally and spiritually.
　
The first ever Marathon was not a symbolic gesture at all. The dawn of western civilization was tumultous. As a new civilization began to spread throughout Europe, Eurasia and northern Africa it came in direct contact with other people and their beliefs. Many wars were fought and people and cultures were spread across the globe by force. The first Marathon was ran by Pheidippides from Marathon to Athens to spread the news that the Greeks had triumphed over the Persians. When he reached his destination he dropped dead leaving the parting message "we are victorious." Some also name Pheidippides as the messenger who ran from Athens to Sparta to plead King Leonidas and his fabled army for help (for all you 300 fans out there).

Today, Marathons are very big affairs. Thousands of men and women of all different ages and backgrounds will take part in a single race. Everyone knows at least one person who has run a Marathon. This is no small feat, we are talking about a 26.2 mile race! That being said, 500,000 people will complete a marathon this year alone.Even though there are 50, 100 and even 150 mile races the Marathon still inspires a certain awe and respect among us.

I believe the Marathon serves as a modern day ritual for us. Whether we participate in one or simply act as spectators and supporters, there is a sense of being firmly connected to what keeps our civilization and the human race moving forward. Thousands participate, hundreds volunteer and countless turn their attention to these events in order to be reminded that we can and will endure as a people. It is amazing that the people of West Africa dominate this sport. West Africa is considered by many the "cradle of civilization"; the place where homo sapiens may have first walked the Earth. The Marathon has evolved into a ritual that symbolizes the endurance of all human beings and not just Western Civilization. Today thousands of people cross the finish line at these races...not just eccentric athletes.

The New York City Marathon will take place this weekend and a wave of people from all corners of the globe will wind through the burroughs of arguably the most culturally diverse city in the world. New York now stands as Athens once did, a city at the center of an Empire. This Empire has known art, intellectual achievement and modern innovation as well as greed, corruption and terrorism. What is so great about rituals like these is that theyt spread an energy out into the world that says "we are victorious" as Pheidippides did when he arrived in Athens. Our great cities will fall and our Empires will be replaced but these rituals will remain. They will survive to remind us that collectively we can accomplish anything.

Stay Positive,

Matthew

"Pretty Good"

2009-10-26T11:27:00.000-07:00

Hello readers!
This is a poem handed out at a staff meeting at school.
I thought I would share!

Pretty Good
by: Charles Osgood
There once was a pretty good student
Who sat in a pretty good class
And was taught by a pretty good teacher
Who always let pretty good pass.
He wasn’t terrific at reading,
He wasn’t a whiz-bang at math,
But for him, education was leading
Straight down a pretty good path.
He didn’t find school too exciting,
But he wanted to do pretty well,
And he did have some trouble with writing
Since nobody taught him to spell.
When doing arithmetic problems,
Pretty good was regarded as fine.
5+5 needn’t always add up to be 10;
A pretty good answer was 9.
The pretty good class that he sat in
Was part of a pretty good school,
And the student was not an exception:
On the contrary, he was the rule.
The pretty good school that he went to
Was there in a pretty good town,
And nobody there seemed to notice
He could not tell a verb from a noun.
The pretty good student in fact was
Part of a pretty good mob.
And the first time he knew what he lacked was
When he looked for a pretty good job.
It was then, when he sought a position,
He discovered that life could be tough,
And he soon had a sneaking suspicion
Pretty good might not be good enough.
The pretty good town in our story
Was part of a pretty good state
Which had pretty good aspirations
And prayed for a pretty good fate.
There once was a pretty good nation
Pretty proud of the greatness it had,
Which learned much too late,
If you want to be great,
Pretty good is, in fact, pretty bad.

Be the exception to the rule! If you want to be great (whether it be at running, teaching, writing, dancing, cooking, etc., etc.) Strive for more than "pretty good."
Strive for excellence!

-Caitlyn

Staying Positive and Being Soft

2009-10-14T07:21:00.000-07:00

This post serves to clear up a common misconception about remaining positive while keeping ourselves protected in a sometimes adverse world. No matter how positive of a person you are you will run into negative people and negative situations. Often these people are so negatively charged that they go in search of ways to balance themselves by bringing down others. This is usually the source of most daily dramas that keep us from truly experiencing life in the here and now.

People often say...how can I just be positive with so many awful things going on in the world? The simple truth is there are incredibly beautiful and uplifting things happening every second of the day as well. Our attention is shifted to these negative things through the added weight our media places on them or because of the heightened need of our internal survival mechanisms to notice dangerous situations. There is a constant miracle called life happening every millisecond of the day. There are children being born, people helping others, nature is constantly providing us a 24 hour spectacle. Can you imagine if the media reported all the positive things that happened each and every day?

To be aware of a negative situation is important and critical to our survival, as I alluded to earlier. Just because we are choosing to be positive does not mean we ignore a potentially damaging situation. Often people who adopt an attitude of positive thinking and feeling become "soft". They are too afraid to have sharp edges and often go along with things that are detrimental to them. When one does this they are giving away their personal power to others and opening the door to being taken advantage of. Often the kindest people we know end up in inequitable positions at work or in unhealthy relationships.

Being positive requires a strong sense of personal power. We must know when to draw a line in the sand without fighting. Rarely are we put in situations where fighting is necessary. We are no longer in medieval times, where conflict was often settled with physical battles. This does not stop us as humans from trying to inflict pain on one another. We take to using words as a way to harm people emotionally instead. The famous children's anthem of "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" is a clever thing to say but it is far from the truth. How do we remain positive and avoid getting hurt?

The truth is you can't avoid getting hurt. We will always be hurt and we are often hurt by the people we care the most about. This is often why we develop a soft exterior because we want to maintain a good relationship with people even after they have hurt us. There are two important scenarios to consider:

The threat of physical pain: If you are being threatened physically, the most important thing to do is get as far away from that person as possible. If this is impossible, you need to defend yourself physically by any means necessary. Resorting to physical violence is always a last resort and a completely inappropriate and unbalanced way to deal with someone who is trying to hurt you emotionally.

The threat of emotional pain: This is much more common. People who strike out against your emotions feel very weak and insignificant and do this to develop a false sense of personal power. It is important to call these people out because they will often retreat very quickly or make a fool of themselves by continuing their useless diatribes further. A statement such as "Right now what you are saying makes me angry and if you continue I am going to either walk away or just stop listening" often works just fine. This is a statement of personal power and it is effective in the face of those who do not feel powerful themselves.

This is not easy. It may be the biggest challenge to being human. We are blessed with the intellectual and physical capacities that have allowed us to evolve into the most sophisticated animals on the planet Earth. We were also given the opportunity to experiences the richness of life through our emotions. To be fully human is to experience all three of these realms fully. Remember you are never alone in this endeavor, if you act out kindness and stay positive incredibly supportive people will have no trouble finding you.

Stay Positive,

Matthew

Alternative to Barefoot Running

2009-10-14T06:36:00.000-07:00

The stability disc is a great supplement to your running practice. It will help you increase balance, coordination and focus. The stability disc offers many of the same benefits as barefoot running, withouth many of the hazards.

Laughing Baby

2009-10-13T12:59:00.000-07:00

--Jeff

Chris McDougall on CNN

2009-10-08T17:45:00.001-07:00

Check out this clip of Chris McDougall on CNN. Chris is the author of "Born to Run" and a barefoot running convert. His book is a very entertaining read!

--Jeff

Running Wellness Up Your Spine

2009-10-06T09:23:00.000-07:00

Hello Wellness Running fans!

Todays post is about the chakras, specifically: incorpating them into your ChiRunning practice. Chakras is a cool word similar to prana (see below) that you may have seen or heard. Maybe the person wearing the prana t-shirt talked to you about his or her chakras. The topic is extremely vast, so this blog post will serve as an elementary introduction to this complex system of wellness.

Chakras are often thought of as wheels of light or energy that vibrate, pulse, and spin at different speeds and frequencies. There are many chakras in the body, however, there are 7 primary chakras that exsist on the spine. We will discuss a process for exploring the 7 primary chakras in this post. Below you will find and outline of a week of practice, focusing on 1 chakra per day. The week starts with Monday, however, you can adjust this to meet your needs.

1 - Monday - Root Chakra - Base of the spine - Groundedness
The first chakra is the root chakra, which exsists at the bottom of the spine. This chakra has to do with feeling grounded, secure, stable. Monday is a good day for this chakra because it is (typically) the start of the work week. We can use our ChiRunning practice to ground ourselves for the week ahead.

Focus while running/walking - Posture stance.
By focusing on your posture and feeling your feet directly under your column you will end the run with a feeling of being connected to the ground. This will get you "out of your head" and into your body. If you practice barefoot running, this is a good day for it.

Yoga poses - mountain, tree

2 - Tuesday - Sacral Chakra - In the pelvis - fluidity, sexuality, expression
The second chakra is in the pelvis and deals with fluidity, sexuality, expression, emotions and more. The Monday run left you with a feeling of groundedness, now its time to move and express yourself. this will help create a nice flow to your work and help you loosen up.

Focus while running/walking - Pelvic rotation
By *allowing* your pelvis to rotate you will run more fluidly. This will help clean out some of the tension that exsists in your hips and pelvis. Many ChiRunners report that when they get the pelvic rotation they experience a smooth flow to the run which they never could have imagined. Use this run to become aware, without judgement, of how you are expressing yourself. Are you tight, restricted, and closed? Are you loose, relaxed, and fluid? How are these physical traits manifesting in your life? How do they correspond to your emotions?

Yoga poses - pigeon, dancer

3 - Wednesday - Third Chakra - Adrenal glands, T12/L1, power, strength
The third Chakra deals with power and strength. This is a good day to add in hills, or a track workout to your practice. This will help keep you feeling strong for the remainder of the weak and not feel "beat down" by the work work.

Focus while running - arm swing or more pelvic rotation
Because the third chakra exsists around T12/L1 a good focus for this day is to feel your pelvic rotation happening at T12/L1 and imagine your legs starting from that point in your spine. Twisting from this area will open your body up to enormous amounts of energy filling your running practice with incredible amounts of joy and satisfaction. Another good focus is arm swing, especially if you do hills. Focusing on the up hill ChiRunning arm swing technique will fill you with feelings of strength and power. A great practice for the middle of the week.

Yoga poses - warrior series

4 - Thursday - Heart Chakra - Heart - Love, Compassion, Purpose
The fourth chakra is the heart chakra which exists in the chest. It deals with Love and Compassion. This is a great chance to remind someone you love them (including yourself!)

Focus while running - Lean - imagining a bungee cord pulling you forward from the center of your chest
This focus will help you feel the lean and engage gravity as well as give you a feeling of letting your heart move you through life

Yoga poses - camel

5 - Friday - Throat Chakra - Expression, Thyroid
The fifth chakra deals with expression and is located in the throat. It is good day to practice expressing yourself more clearly. This practice is about being in balance so some need to express themselves more while others need to express themselves less. Find what you need and practice it.
Focus while running - Pressing up through the crown of the head.
This focus will keep your neck in a neutral position. Remember to not look down too much (at your feet) as this will constrict the energy flow of this chakra. This is a good run to join a friend and let the conversation fly.

Yoga poses - fish

6 - Saturday - Third Eye - Intuition, focus, clarity
Probably the most talked about chakra is the "third eye" chakra, located in the brain. This chakra deals with intuition, focus, and clarity. This is a good chance to practice your focus, especially if you have a race. It is also a good day to stop during your run and do the Chi Gathering exercise.

Focus while running - Focus
Pick one of the form focuses and practice your focus. Set your watch to beep every 30 seconds to remind you to return to your focus.

Yoga poses - meditation, childs with forehead touching mat or block

7 - Sunday - Crown Chakra - Spirituality
The seventh chakra deals with spirtuality. It is located on top of, or possibly slightly above the head. It is often thought of as the spot where spirtual energy enters the body. This is a good day to detach from the rigors of the work week, relax and become immersed in the beauty of your surroundings. Even if you are in the city you can allow yourself to enter the flow state and become overwhelmed with the incredible synchronicty and perfection of the universe unfolding moment to moment.

Focus while running - Relaxation
Many people do their long run on Sunday. Relaxation is an especially good focus if that is the case. Relax and allow the Chi of your surroundings to enter you and flow through your body uninhibited.

Yoga poses - guided meditation, mantra, prayer

Try this process for a full week and let me know how it goes. You might find that once you start, you won't want to stop and the focuses will become automatic.

Running Wellness - What is your Wellness Running PR?

2009-10-05T10:13:00.000-07:00

Running Wellness

What is your Running Wellness Personal Record?

Hello Friends!

As runners, we have all thought about our Personal Records (PRs) at some point or another. A personal record is the fastest time you have ever run at a particular distance. It sounds simple, but us runners make it slightly more complicated (PR on a certified course, indoor PR, outdoor PR, road PR, cross country PR, age adjusted PR and many more…)

Here at the Sisu Project we love a good PR. Many of our members run a PR the first time they wear the jersey! While running PRs is great, it is not the most important thing to your running. More important to running your best time is:

Running Wellness
Also known as Running A Wellness, Wellness Running, Wellness Run

What is running wellness? Running wellness is a term I just made up by combining two of the best words ever; running and wellness. Running wellness can be used as a verb as in:
I was out on the trails running wellness today, everything clicked and I felt completely connected to my surroundings. I was overcome with feelings of joy and relaxation.

Running wellness can also be used as a noun as in: Yesterday at the race I ran a running wellness. It was the best I’ve ever felt at a race and I ran my running wellness PR.

The great thing about wellness running PRs is they usually lead to time PRs, whereas time PRs do not always lead to wellness running PRs.

You can apply the term running wellness any way you want. There are no rules here.

Ok…but what does running wellness mean?
Running wellness means (to me):

You had the greatest run ever and feel every cell in your body pulsing with Prana (see post below for explanation on Prana, also known as Chi)

You have a healthy mind, body and spirit.

You are not injured and do not feel pain.

You have high energy levels that last consistently throughout the day.

Your running is a practice that improves several aspects of your life including but not limited to: focus, mental clarity, relaxation, alignment, cooperating with a force, core strength (see ChiRunning for more detail.) Now THAT is wellness running!

Some things about wellness running are measurable (heart rate, blood pressure etc)
Some things about wellness running are not as measurable (emotions)

A wellness run might be a run that wasn’t your longest or fastest but that left you feeling less stressed, more focused, more relaxed, and filled with joy.
Those are just a few examples of what running wellness means to me. What does wellness running mean to you?

Think back throughout your running. When did you run your wellness running PR? When did you feel at your absolute best physically, mentally, and emotionally? If the answer is not “right now!” what can you do to run a new running wellness PR? What steps can you take to get back to, or experience for the first time the joy and vibrant health that running can bring to you?

Barefoot Running

2009-09-28T17:38:00.000-07:00

For years running has been heralded as one of the most affordable sports. “All you need is a pair of good running shoes, and the willingness to train, and you’re on your way!” This is in contrast to other sports that require far more equipment and more complex training facilities.
These days, we see an exaggeration away from the simplicity of the good ole days, and, in fact, the exaggeration goes in both directions. In one direction running has spiraled into a complex mathematical hyper-equation to be solved with GPS wrist watches, online mapping programs, and race chips to track your time. It’s only natural that the minimalists among us would scoff at all this excess stuff, reminding everyone to “just get out and run…..just grab your shoes and…..wait a minute….what’s that….don’t even grab the shoes….just…..get out…..and……run???” You don't need a fancy watch, heart rate monitor or online map....you don't even need SHOES!
What I’m speaking about here is the new trend of barefoot running, which has been gaining incredible momentum after the release of Christopher Mcdouggall’s popular book “Born to Run,” which chronicles his time spent running with tarahumara indians, a tribe of super runners who wear nothing but thin sandals while running 100s of miles at a time.
The goal of the Sisu Project is to support you running safely and efficiently so you can achieve things you never thought possible. This post is the first of many that will provide sensible information for you regarding proper footwear.
First we will begin with a look at both sides of the argument (and it is becoming quite the heated debate!)

Claims made by shoe companies, doctors, coaches etc. as to why you need shoes may include but not be limited to:
Protection from glass, rocks, and otherwise sharp objects
Cushioning
Pronation control/Stability
Protection from weather

Claims made by barefooters as to why you need to run barefoot may include but not be limited to:
Shoes change your gait and will cause injury
Running in shoes is not natural
You will automatically run in proper form if you run barefoot
Wearing shoes will cause your feet to atrophy
Running barefoot will increase your feel of the ground creating better mind/body connection

I’m going to assume that the majority of readers are currently running the majority of their mileage in shoes. If you are currently injured or not running to your potential, there are many factors you should look at before throwing away your running shoes. I would like to put out a word of caution that going barefoot can lead to a world of pain and trouble.
As a ChiRunning and Yoga instructor I am all about finding balance. I do not find it sensible for the majority of runners to throw away their running shoes and do all of their running barefoot. There are, however, some decent points brought up by the barefoot community. Is it possible to have the best of both worlds?

If you take the time to learn and practice ChiRunning and Yoga you can get the same benefits of barefoot running without the high risk of pain and injury.

“Shoes change your gait and cause injury”
Shoes don’t change your gait. Shoes ALLOW you to change your gait. One major flaw in the barefoot messaging is their inability to take personal accountability for the hardships they suffered while running in shoes. Cushioned shoes allow you to swing your legs in front of you and land with your heel in front of your hips. This is one of the first things ChiRunning aims to correct. I have seen hundreds of ChiRunners running in shoes, landing with their foot directly under their hips. Shoes don’t cause you to do anything, they allow you to change your gait (whether you are aware of it or not is another story.)

“You will automatically run in proper form if you run barefoot”
This again, is not true, and reveals another huge flaw in the barefoot messaging. Most of the articles and blog posts on the issue make the claim that barefoot running will automatically have you running in proper form, yet the authors go on to suggest many elements of foot strike and form, most of which are very similar to ChiRunning (slight forward lean, peeling the foot of the ground, relaxed lower legs, foot strike under hips.) It is true that most people will probably not overstride while running barefoot but to say they will automatically run in proper form is a huge stretch. If you want to learn proper form, learn ChiRunning and practice the form focuses diligently.

“Wearing shoes will cause the muscles of your feet to atrophy”
This is true, and the tighter the shoe, the more the muscles will weaken over time. It is also true that walking and running barefoot will strengthen the muscles of the feet, however, as stated above, this comes with extreme risk and a reduction in training. If you want to strengthen the muscles of you feet safely, I recommend doing Yoga, specifically balance postures. If you want to really strengthen the feet, get a stability disc and do balance postures and lunges on it. It really is as simple as that.

"Running barefoot will increase your feel of the ground, creating better mind/body connection"
You don't need to go barefoot to increase your mind/body connection as ChiRunning offers many form focuses that will provide the same result; increased body awareness. If you want to really go deep into your body, a good Yoga, Tai Chi, and/or meditation practice will complement your ChiRunning even further. While running barefoot will increase your feeling of the ground, for some of us this is not going to be pleasant, just like grabbing a hot pan from the oven without a mitt will increase your awareness of the heat, stepping on a rock barefoot will increase your awareness of jagged objects.

This is a very brief introduction to this vast topic. Post any comments or questions you may have or email me at SteezSP@yahoo.com
I will be posting a guide to finding the right shoe soon so stay tuned for that, and in the meantime run smart.

Your Time

2009-09-27T18:52:00.000-07:00

Hockey was my first sport, and I still miss flying up and down the ice. I long for the days of blue line, back; red line, back; far blue line, back; all the way down, all the way back sprints and pond hockey followed by hot chocolate and chili.

Still a fan of the sport, I have the movie "Miracle" listed among my favorites. The story of the 1980 USA Hockey team is one for the ages, and I still get chills when I hear the famous call of Al Michaels the last ten seconds of the game against the Soviets.

With that being said, I came across this video when someone posted it on Facebook. If you've seen the movie, this is when Herb Brooks gives his pre-game speech in the minutes before the Americans take the ice against the Soviets. This version, however, is a little different. Enjoy!

Jeff

Prana - The one nutrient behind everything

2009-09-23T17:17:00.000-07:00

If you have ever been to a yoga class or seen some earthy crunchy types walking around you've may encountered this word, Prana, before. This is not some mystical cult or voodoo magic that is practiced by a secret society. It simply means energy. Energy is the one thing that exists and has always existed, as far as we can tell. There is no explanation for it, energy is just there and always will be! I like the word Prana, because it sounds cool and I got admit I own a couple of those shirts with the cool logo I posted above.

The Kripalu Psychologist Stephen Cope describes Prana like this:

Prana is life force - the stuff of those million, zillion stars circling and exploding. Human beings receive it directly into the body through the air. We take it in other ways as well - through live foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, through fresh water, through living, breathing, trees and vegetation, and, if we are open to it through the love of other people and creatures. We probably take it in more mysterious ways, too, I think - through music, the sound of inspiring words, and perhaps through beautiful sights

Prana - is the first and most essential nutrient. In many ways Prana is what this blog is all about. As Mr. Cope said we can get prana from eating fresh and living foods but also through a myriad of other ways. Make sure you are getting your daily reccomended dose of Prana each and every day. Consider the amount of energy that is pulsing through your food when you are packing or picking out a lunch. Ask yourself if you are actually breathing in enough air each and every day. And for Prana's sake laugh and give someone a hug...even if it is just your dog....or a tree...just do it! Okay, maybe I've been wearing these Prana shirt's a little too much but I guarantee it will make you feel better.

Stay Positive,

Matthew

Wherever you are is a great place to start!

2009-09-16T09:01:00.001-07:00

Hello SP,

I am so glad you decided to read my blog today. Discovering the depth of what is possible is the most fascinating subject to me. We often look to athletes and geniuses to witness amazing feats of both body and mind. Usain Bolt, the great sprinter, just ran 100 meters in 9.69 seconds! We see the leaps being made in technology on a daily basis and marvel at what human minds are able to think up.

What we often forget is that these possibilities are within ourselves as well. Within each person's DNA lies vast human potential. We all experience momentary flashes of genius and find ourselves capable of amazing feats in our lifetime. These are not just chance encounters with adrenaline, luck or divine intervention. This is our inner self reminding us we are fully capable of anything we can possibly dream up.

Human beings are equipped with phenemonal intellect and imaginative capabilities. We were also blessed with a body that could perform an inexhaustible amount of functions. The tools are there to build your dreams, all we need to do is hammer a way a little bit each day. A vision becomes realized when it is held in the mind and transferred through our neurons to every cell in our body. We can literally feel our fingers and toes curl with inspiration.

Here are some of the visions that pass through my mind that I intend to bring into reality. What are some of yours?

1. Run a Half Marathon (Philadelphia 2009!)
2. Run a Marathon (Boston 2012!)
3. Own a beautiful home (In the Merrimack Valley!)
4. Earn a Master's Degree (Counseling or Education!)
5. Earn plenty of money doing something I love
6. Speak and Write professionally
7. Have a beautiful, healthy and happy family that is well taken care of
8. Eat the best and highest quality food for my body
9. Serve others in the most honorable way I possibly can
10. Make a lasting impression on every person I meet

What ten things do you want to accomplish? Can you name five? What is one thing you really want to accomplish? I look forward to supporting you.

Stay Positive,

Matthew

A New World Record!!

2009-09-11T12:48:00.001-07:00

Move over Usain Bolt, there's a new 100m World Record record and it was set by a resident of Cincinnati!

Sarah is an eight year old Cheetah from the Cincinnati Zoo. Even as a middle aged cat she still had the strength and speed to set a new standard for all land mammals in the 100 meters! Check it out!

Her time SHATTERS Bolts World Record by 3 seconds... And she doesn't even have those cool racing flats on!!

... but do you think they had her take a Drug Test?
:)

-Caitlyn

Do you believe in me?

2009-09-08T15:14:00.000-07:00

As a teacher, the start of the school year is a whirlwind of activities. My principal showed this video to the staff today as we prepped for the arrival of students tomorrow. The young man speaking is in front of 20,000 educators from the Dallas Independent School District in Dallas, Texas.

While not running related, it certainly is applicable to anything in life. Watch and be inspired by this young man!

--Jeff

Welcome

2009-09-05T16:14:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to the SISU Project running blog! The SISU Project is a New England based running team built on the foundation of health and wellness. In fact , we are the first and only New England running team built fully around wellness running. You may be wondering, “what exactly is wellness running?”

Wellness running removes the stressful focus on external goals and places the attention entirely within each individual runner. If this sounds confusing…don’t worry! This blog is here to support, guide, and inspire you to run pain free and gain energy from running, rather than having running deplete and destroy you. When approached correctly, running is a joyous, exhilarating feeling and we aim to share this with as many people as possible.

There are several themes you will find in the SISU Project blog, among them are: Heath Counseling, Yoga, and ChiRunning. These three practices form the foundation of our wellness running approach.

We have many great things planned for you. Here are just a few of the things we plan to share within this space:

Tips for running pain and injury free

Applying Yoga to your running practice

Tips for nourishing your body to achieve optimal health and vitality

Questioning many of the traditional beliefs and approaches to running

Exposing why so many runners frequently hurt themselves

Reviewing products that may (or may not) help your running practice

Sharing laughter

That’s all for now. Check back with us often and also check out our website, www.sisuproject.com to learn more.