Things are looking up today. I did a four mile run on the route I was supposed to do yesterday (minus the 3 laps around La Cienega Park). I was not entirely 100%, more like 75%. But I just took it easy and focused on my ChiRunning basic posture. According the the ChiRunning book, "When your posture is aligned, chi can flow up and down your spine and into your whole body." So today I made a point to maintain that perfect hips over ankles/shoulders over hips/crown rising straight up posture with a slight lean pulling me forward, as opposed to my legs having to push me. It worked quite well. There was surely an experience of less effort, which was nice given the leftover weariness from my cold.Today I am subbing a 'Power Hour' class at Shakti Box and I hope to bring this idea of effortlessness into the yoga asana. It is interesting how in these physical/spiritual practices, it is ultimately not about using your muscles, but instead using gravity and alignment to float from one position to another. It is about riding the prana, or chi, not about pushing and pulling yourself. And it always comes down to the breath as the guide for when you are calm and present, or when you are forcing yourself and clenching in places. By riding your even, deep, full breath the movements naturally emerge from your center of power, and are tapped into your chi.
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