Welcome to the May edition of The Peaceful Runner Newsletter - your free monthly resource for inspirational articles and quotes, delicious recipes and the latest news and trends in running.

In this issue:

1) Quote of the Month
2) Article: Slow Down to Run Faster
3) Recipe of the Month: Broccoli Pasta

Slow Down to Run Faster

Edward Yu is a Feldenkrais Practitioner and a martial artist in both Tai Chi and Bagua. From his own experiences and practices, he has learned that only in slowing down and "sensing" our own bodies can we really improve how we move. His book includes 20 lessons to help you improve your ability to sense your own body. It is only through sensing your own body that you can discover your own power, speed and agility (and run faster without more effort).

Although the title of this book refers to running faster, everyone who wants to improve how they move can benefit from increasing their body awareness and ease of movement and avoid the stiffness of joints and limited movements that usually come with aging. Discover the youthful movements that still exist within you--rediscover the child within!

It is only through slowing down that we can notice and learn what we are doing.

"You can't do what you want if you don't know what you're doing."
-- Moshe Feldenkrais

Edward Yu's great sense of humor, his unique style of writing and relevant anecdotes makes this book an interesting and easy read. Throughout his book, he brings forth some very interesting and thought-provoking concepts. Some of which, I have listed here:

• Your running form should be beautiful, unhurried, graceful, easy and effortless.
• Pay attention to discomfort. Don't try to mask it with distractions, such as listening to music. You can learn from discomfort when you listen, pay attention and experiment with different ways that feel better.
• Stop shuffling. If you notice yourself shuffling when your intention is to run, take a pause. If you shuffle without intention, you are teaching your nervous system how not to run.
• To maintain your form even when you fatigue, practice tuning into specific points in your body, i.e. keeping the back of your neck long, reaching for the sky with the top of your head, and others that you will discover in the lessons included with the book.

To learn more about the concept of slowing down to run faster, check out this life and body-altering book:

"When you see somebody who can't type, they start with two fingers. If they go on typing like that, they won't gradually use ten fingers. They will get better and better at using this terrible method. The hands move very fast like a couple of mad hens. But they never develop a good technique and the result is that typing is always a strain and an effort."
--Trevor Leggett

Recipe of the Month: Broccoli Pasta

• 1 broccoli head
• 250 g Spaghetti pasta
• 3 tbsp Olive Oil
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes, cut in half
• 1 garlic clove, chopped
• freshly ground black pepper
• ¼ cup Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Cut broccoli crown from stem and separate florets into small pieces. Trim end from stem and discard. Peel stem and then slice remaining stem into thin slices. Place all together and put aside.
2. Cook pasta in a large saucepan of boiling, salted water. Cook for 10 minutes or longer until tender but firm. While pasta is cooking, heat oil over medium heat in a large frying pan. Add broccoli florets, stems and salt and cook for 3 minutes or until starting to soften. Stir in cherry tomatoes and garlic. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes longer or until broccoli is tender. Remove from heat.
3. Drain pasta and reserve ½ cup cooking water. Add pasta and reserved pasta cooking water to frying pan and toss well to combine. Divide among 4-6 pasta bowls. Grind lots of black pepper over each serving. Sprinkle with Parmesan or crumbled feta or goats cheese and serve immediately.

Jackie

ThePeacefulRunner.com

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