Running with the Whole Body: A 30-Day Program to Running Faster with Less Effort [Paperback]

Jack Heggie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 19, 1996

In Running with the Whole Body, Heggie proposes a thirty-day exercise program that will not only prevent you from injuring yourself in a new way, but enable you to become a smoother, and more powerful runner. The exercises presented isolate the workings of the various parts of the body to show how each part of the body balances and works in concert with the others. The result is a body whose torso, hips, pelvis and shoulders all move freely in the act of running. You will discover how to unleash the power of the large, strong muscles of the hips, spine and shoulders to power your running.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jack Heggie earned a degree in physics and worked as a digital computer design engineer, programmer, and field engineer for ten years before becoming a Feldenkrais Practitioner. He studied with Dr. Feldenkrais in Israel and the US, and has trained with Ruthy Alon, Mia Segal, and Shlomo Efrat, all senior Feldenkrais trainers. Heggie has written about the Feldenkrais approach of learning through awareness for Skiing, NorthWest Skier, Boston SportScape, Snow Country, The Instrmentalist, Direction, and Somatics magazines. He maintains a private practice in Boulder, Colorado and Dallas, Texas.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: North Atlantic Books; 2 edition (November 19, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556432267
• ISBN-13: 978-1556432262
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.4 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #92,370 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #43 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Other Team Sports > Track & Field

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Improved Significantly After the First Chapter, November 21, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Running with the Whole Body: A 30-Day Program to Running Faster with Less Effort (Paperback)

The book applies the Feldenkrais method to running in a very logical way. It begins with the big picture, and then focuses on the details. The exercises in this book are well thought out, and WILL make a difference in your running. I noticed a significant improvement after only the first chapter, and I just kept improving with each subsequent chapter. You begin by studying the relationship between the upper and lower body while walking. The shoulders should move in a direction opposite the hips. Most people, myself included, do not do this properly and it affects breathing and everything else involved in running. I spent an evening working on this, and immediately noticed a huge improvement in my running. Breathing suddenly became easier, and my stride became less jarring. Through each chapter, the improvements continued. This book is a must for every runner. It will make all the difference.

46 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally free your body, December 16, 1999

By 

Jim Schubert (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Running with the Whole Body: A 30-Day Program to Running Faster with Less Effort (Paperback)

This book takes you through a thorough series of Feldenkrais exercises to open up your movement in your running. He not only shows and tells you how to find a healthy, easy running style, he gets you to feel it. Using the exercises in this book I eliminated knee pain I've had for years and finally got rid of the pain from an upper back injury no specialist seemed able to fix. I have to say thanks to Jack Heggie for writing this book.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sports Medicine PH D told me I wouldn't be able to run again, October 3, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Running with the Whole Body: A 30-Day Program to Running Faster with Less Effort (Paperback)

A sports medicine PH D told me I wouldn't be able to run again ...but I proved him wrong!! Due to bad calcium deposits, the doctor told me that the pain would grow and grow until I wouldn't be able to run again.

I think you are supposed to go through the exercises twice but I did them only once, 20 min a day for 20-24 days.

I am no athlete but since then, I ran a Full Marathon, several Half-marathons and plenty of ten millers. That was 3 years ago, I still run between 20 - 40 miles a week. I run pain free, worst case I get a slight discomfort that I can't tell if it is from regular training for the past ailment anymore.

This book is about how to move efficiently. Maybe, I just changed the way of moving that caused the problem.