Technique | Merisoiu Technique Institute

February 27, 2017August 14, 2017

Running With Lower Back Pain – Testimonial Client Experience

Richard experienced sore back after running. We knew it was a non-specific lower back pain (i.e. not caused my disc problems, accidents etc) so we could work together.

Over the 12 months we’ve worked once a week to develop strength, flexibility and mobility through natural movement. We also corrected his running form to make it less destructive on his joints and body as a whole.

There were many many changes in his running form over the past 12 months which lead to NO MORE BACK PAIN!! during or after running.

But it’s not over. Next steps: fine tune technique, optimise performance and address other subtle imbalances, tension and restrictions in the body.

Well done Richard!

This is what we look at on the Running Technique Workshop. Of course, changing the way you move and use your body takes time, but on the workshop you will leave with a few concepts that, if used, can make a huge difference.

While same results cannot be guaranteed, with practice, natural running technique will help you run faster, further, with less effort and fewer injuries.

Book your spot for the next workshop in East London, Canada Water.

February 23, 2017August 14, 2017

How Your Arms Make Your Running Heavy And Breathing Difficult

If you want to run lighter, breathe easier when you run and reduce the risk of injuries think about your arms. What you do with your arms, where they’re going, how they’re moving and everything in between.

I explain in the video and also show how your arm direction affects your running, making it heavy and it also affects your breathing.

When your arms cross your body midline the following happens:

your shoulder start to curl inwards
that leads to the chest closing up
which compresses the chest and rib cage
that leads to difficult breathing
your alignment is also off as the shoulders drop forward
your hips fall back
your general centre of mass in behind you
your lower back takes a lot of pressure
your lower back is sore

To avoid this chain reaction you arms should move forward, and your elbows lightly brushing your body.

Check out the March 2017 Running Technique Workshop in East London.

If you live in Surrey we have weekly classes dedicated to runners. Get in touch for more information

Dracula’s Retreat link as promised in the video click here.

February 14, 2017August 14, 2017

Running Effortlessly Using Gravity

runinng-effortlessly-using-gravity-running-technique-style-alexandra-meri

When it comes to running lighter and with less effort one of the most important lessons I’ve learnt from my coach is to use gravity – free energy. And that’s one of the lessons Pose Method of running teaches as well.

In this video I explain and also show you how to use gravity, but to have it in writing the idea is that:

To avoid pushing off, which created pressure on the body and joints, you want to learn forward from the ANKLES

Avoid bending from the hips; body has to learn as a whole, as a plank, from the ankles; it’s a FREE FALL feeling (i.e. falling on your face)

Keep the feet under the body; if your foot goes ahead of the body you will stop your free fall and will experience a lot of pressure on the joints, especially knees

This article and video links to the previous article and video on How runners damage their knees.

If you wish to know more about our dedicated Running Technique Workshops and Classes in London and Surrey email support@themtechnique.com or fill in the form below the video and we will reply within 2 working days.

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February 7, 2017August 14, 2017

How Runners Damage Their Knees

Are you a runner? Do you suffer from knee pain but there is no structural damage that you are aware of (i.e. meniscus, ligament damage etc)? Not yet at least!

Then you should consider looking at HOW you run, your running form, more than for how long and how fast you run.

In this video I explain the main mistake runners make from a technical point of view. That main mistake runners make that lead to damaged knees is OVER STRIDING. Yep. Shorten your stride and you will be using your body in a less destructive way, because when you over stride you:

1. Lock your knee

The moment you lock out your knee it cannot absorb the impact as is would when it is slightly bent. When it is slightly bent you are using the knees and muscles aroudn the knees, the stabilizor msucles as suspension to take on the pressure. When you lovk your knees all you do is put all that pressure and impact on the joint itself.

2. Break your fall

In the POSE Method of running Dr Romanov talks about using gravity to move the body forwards, leaning the whole body from the ankles (not bending from the hips). However, when you over stride all you do is break your fall. Add a locked knee to the equation and you have the recipe for knee injuries.

3. Push off

When you over stride the only way to move on is to push off with the back leg. When you push off you stretch out the leg and you also get a reaction from the ground (for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction). The harder you push off the harder the reaction from the ground.

There are a few other reasons when you don’t want to over stride which I haven’t covered in this video but will in future videos.

Watch the video below and if you wish to enquire about our Running Workshop please fill in the form under the video and we will get in touch within 2 business days.

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December 16, 2016August 14, 2017

Running Technique – Matching Cadence And Breath For Long Distance Running

When talking about how to breathe when running we need to look at how to match the breath to our cadence. When we achieve that breathing is not a problem anymore.

So many people who take up running say they have to stop because they can’t breath anymore, although their legs are ok. The problem is not fitness, not always at least, but their breathing rhythm.

They might go really fast at the beginning, breathing being chaotic, and they burn out faster. Then they have to stop to catch their breath.

The idea is that, no matter the cadence you’re at, it’s slower if you are a beginner for example, match your breathing to your cadence. Then you can go as far as your legs will take you, and as fast as well.

On the same topic I talked about in the previous video: Breathing Struggles When Running

I explain in more detail in the video. If you wish to attend our dedicated running workshops email support@themtechnique.com or book a free consultation,

March 28, 2016

Complexity Of Movement Enhances Your Problem Solving Skills

Complexity-Of-Movement-Enhances-Problem-Solving-Skills

The more complex the movement it the more your brain develops, enhancing your brain-body communication and coordination. What that means for you?

Everyday you perform complex tasks that requests a lot of back and forth communication between your brain and all other areas of your body, inside and out. Some of them we are conscious of, others are automatic and beyond out control.

Improving the communication brain-body mean you will handle these tasks more effectively and efficiently, with less risk of damaging your body. Complex movements involve using several muscles and joints in an exercise (i.e. squats or lunges).

But there is more than the physical. The more complicated the movement is (and now I mean more than how many muscles and joints are involved, but complicated movement) the more focus, thought and problem solving skills you have to put into it.

Just like a muscle your focus and problem solving skills will improve as you master movement, or Body Mastery as I call it. And where do you think you will use these? In your life, your job, as a mother or father, passing these skills on to your children.

You see, what you do in training is not, or shouldn’t be, only about fitness and health, as we see them from the outside. It has ramifications throughout your life and impacts the lives of the people around. We must look and develop beyond the surface, if we are to be motivated and consistent in anything we do.

Unleash Your Physical Potential 12 Weeks Programme was created to develop these skills, and many others. Sure, it involves physical development – improving your fitness, stamina, strength – then we also have nutrition. But beyond the surface there is much more going on, you develop the skills, discipline, perseverance and focus you will always need no matter what you do in life or who you are.

The online programme is very complex, but I have structured it in such a way so you can take small bites and learn complex movements step by step. After 12 weeks of guidance from me, and another 12 weeks developing by yourself (there are 2 parts on the programme) you will have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge and several training routines, to develop the body and mind.

WHO IS IT FOR

There are 2 groups of people who’d benefit from this programme:

1. Those getting back into fitness or getting into fitness and want to do it the right way

2. Those already fit but with the desire to learn more, develop new skills, improve performance, and learn new exercises and techniques.

Have a look at the programme, sign up for a plan, and let’s take your health, fitness and life to the next level. Unleash Your Physical Potential

March 4, 2016

The Best Exercise For Your Triceps

Have you ever thought whether there is a different exercise out there, more interesting and less boring than the usual diamond pressups and triceps extension? Among the best arm workouts you can do is this funny looking exercise, which uses only your own body weight? Yeah, you hear me right, I am an advocate of body weight training. That’s because for the majority of people, body weight training is enough and it can be progressed and regressed.

Furthermore if you practice this triceps exercise you not only tone your triceps bu you also:

improve your posture (probably the number 1 benefits of this triceps exercise in my opinion)
strengthen your core muscles (abdominal muscles, side of the abdomen, back muscles, hips and diaphragm)
protect your lower back and reduce the risk of low back pain (for many people standing exercises or pressups and planks can be detrimental if they do not have good core control and body awareness; problem solved with this triceps exercise)
stabilize your shoulder joint (stronger in a safer way)
stretching and opening up the chest and shoulders
shoulder mobility
mobility in wrists and ankles
finger strength (particularly if you practice on uneven terrain, such as the outdoors)

What does all this mean to you? It means you can have a toned, strong, fit, healthy and truly powerful body in a safer way (this is key). Well….you must do other exercises of this type as well, do develop the body all round.

When I say “of this type” I mean exercises that work more than just big muscles in the body, think about posture, fingers, toes, mobility, flexibility and much more.

Remember, you are as strong as your weakest link.

That’s why I believe this is triceps exercise is among the best out there. One that enables you to strengthen your body in a safer way than other methods.

Here’s a video we made at one of The MTI Online Academy : The Crab Walk or Inverted Crawl.

February 17, 2016

Squats And Lunges – Why Should You Care About Body Weight Distribution

Everything you do is body weight distribution, and body weight transfer, as well as balancing (walking is balancing for example). Understand and practice these 3 concepts (and posture) and any exercise or movement you will ever do will be correct. But only if you practice these concepts.

Incorrect body weight distribution simply leads to:

One side of the body will take more of the weight than the other. Thus chances are this side will be over worked, and muscles strained in the long run, while the other side will weaken.
Stress injuries. If you walk, run, squat and lunge while one side of the body takes of weight, and so more of the aggressive impact, it will increase the risks of injuries. It may not happen this year or the next, but after years and years.
Knee pain. This is very common particularly when squatting and lunging, but also standing, walking and running.

When we squat or lunge we are told “knees behind the toes!” Why??? Give the reason why. I’ll tell you why. When the knees go too far over the toes, your body weight distribution is lost. There is more weight going on the front of your feet, while you take the weight off the heels (even if heels are still on the ground). This causes the knees and ankles to take more and more pressure.

Now, that doesn’t mean that you bring the weight back on the heels and lift the toes of the ground. That’s not good either. The solution is The TRIPOD.

How to distribute your weight correctly

Every moment you stand, whatever you do, you will form a tripod with your feet.

THE TRIPOD = BIG TOE + LITTLE TOE + HEEL

When you stand, walk, run, squat, lunge, balance on one leg etc, keep The Tripod firmly rooted into the ground. That’s it. FOCUS.

If you need advice or would like to know more about coaching programs contact me.

January 26, 2016

Press-Ups – Most Common Press-Up Mistakes

I will be using the same video I used in the first post on press-ups: Press-Ups – Why It’s Difficult To Do A Full Press-up, to list some of the most common mistakes we do when learning and practicing press-ups.

There are 3 main reasons why we make press-up mistakes:

We don’t know how to do it – no one taught us
We want to do a lot of them – a lot for some people can be 10; we try to do a lot of them regardless of HOW we do them
We get tired and we lose technique without realizing – having no one next to us to correct leads to even more mistakes

Practicing and repeating press-ups with incorrect technique can lead to:

Muscle strain – particularly the neck, lower back and shoulder blades
Lower back pain
Shoulder pain
Elbow injuries
Muscle imbalances

When you lose technique, further repetitions are useless and you are wasting time and energy.

Common press-up mistakes (you will also see them and explained in the video below):

Head hanging – straining neck muscles. You should focus your attention on a point just in front of your hands. Not just your eyes but the whole head.
Sinking into the shoulders – for beginners in particular, this is sinking into the shoulders to give the impression the body is lowering. Shoulders must be stabilized and the press-up is done by bending the elbows to lower the body.
Elbows to the side – places unwanted stress on the joint and can lead to overuse injury. Although this makes it more difficult learn how to do press-ups with elbows going back, brushing the sides of the body.
Hips sinking below the chest – lower back pain and the abdominal muscles are not working. Hips should follow the chest. When the chest stops the hips stop as well. Hips never go lower than the chest. We do that because, again, we have the impression we go lower in the press-up.
Hips too high – core is not working. This is a pressup variation, forming an “A” shape. But for classic press-ups the hips have to follow the chest. However, if you are unsure it is better to have your hips higher than lower. Hips higher – core not working, while Hips lower – over arching back and lower back pain. Better the first, if you are unsure.

Correct these press-up mistakes and you will train and strengthen your whole upper body. The more correct you do them, even just a few at a time, the more effective they are.

And here is the video I promised, jump at minute 2:48 for press-ups mistakes:

January 14, 2016

What Is The Correct Body Alignment

Alignment there, alignment here, I talk a lot about body alignment. And for good reason.

I was looking at my 8 year old nieces when I took them ice skating. It was their first time on the ice and they were simply naturals. They kept their balance so well, and naturally knew how to move their feet. I don’t know why I was there. Adults, on the other hand, had problems keeping their feet under their bodies. They learn but it takes longer, and their are very unbalanced.

Looking at them I see the correct body alignment. Natural for the kids, un-natural for the adults. We are born with all sorts of abilities, however, when we start sitting more than moving, and stop moving muscles, joints, body awareness goes into “hibernation”. Through Natural Human Movement we wake up those muscles and help the body remember it’s natural abilities, moving the body the way it was designed to move.

Why is correct body alignment important

Firstly, many of the pains, even chronic pains, are a result of habitual movements over a longer period of time, as well as other factors. Now, we don’t talk about health conditions or fractures, for example. Rather lower back pain, knee pain, ankle pain, shoulder pain.

Constant tension and body misuse, over a period of time, can lead to chronic pain

Second, running, walking, or moving in any way with an incorrect alignment can increase risks of injuries, and perpetuate older injuries.

Third, incorrect body alignment can strain certain muscles, and weaken others.

Fourth, strained muscles will affect your posture and your skeletal system, it can literally deform your skeleton; it may not be visible but it happens, think scoliosis, one of the most obvious situations of incorrect body alignment.

How to align your body correctly

In an article I can only give you the basics of correct body alignment. However, if you apply these elements to everything you do it will make a huge different in time.

Whether you are running, squatting, standing or walking remember the following points:

Feet – roughly hip width apart, toes facing forward
The Tripod – each of your feet form a tripod with the big toe + little toe + heel; focus on keeping this tripod on the ground at all times
Soft knees – not necessarily bent, but soft; it’s very subtle
Bucket of water – imagine your hips like a bucket of water; align your hips so you don’t spill water forwards or backwards
Core – if your hip, the bucket of water, is aligned then your core (you will feel it in the abdominal muscles) will be slightly contracted
Shoulders and years are aligned
Straight line from your ears to your shoulders to your hips to (approximately) the front of the ankles

These are the basics in a standing position. If you have any questions on body alignment or want to try one of The Merisoiu Technique sessions contact me.