The Art of Slowing Down: A Sense-Able Approach to Running Faster

by Edward Yu

Why does trying harder sometimes become an exercise in futility? Why does following "expert advice" often lead to little or no improvement? What if there were an eminently efficient way of learning that could be applied to every area of human experience? Drawing from Feldenkerais, Bagua and Taichi, The Art of Slowing Down presents a highly innovative approach to running. Power, speed, coordination and agility are less related to willpower or "God-given" talent than they are to how well you can sense your own body. Running faster can, in this light, be seen as an issue of learning to become more sensible--that is, more sense-able--through playful and systematic exploration of movement.

Genres: Health

218 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2010

Reviews

[Low · Rating 5 out of 5]

This goes beyond just a book about running. It's about moving freely. Think about it. If running distance fast is about reducing your energy expenditure/km then this is definitely the way to go. I really liked this book and this will be a regular page turner for me as I go back to it regularly to learn and re-learn the lessons that it includes.

[Deborah Hustic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for anyone interested in somatics, biomechanics, Feldenkrais, running, Taiji quan (Tai chi), walking, moving or in pretty much everything you do in life. The book is like sending a message, let's talk effortlessly about effortless movements, let's talk about how to slow down a bit to speed up a bit. The second part is also nice with many Feldenkrais exercises. One those books that you get back to re-reminding yourself a bit on your moving habits. No matter if you are a recreational or professional athlete, passionate walker or you simply enjoy reading on human movements. Improving our comprehension on how human beings are using their bodies and the space is fascinating.

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to improve your running, really. Spot on.