TRANSITION PERIOD IN LEARNING POSE METHOD
When you are getting something new in your life, whatever it might be (a car, a house, a computer, etc.), no matter how much better it could be than your old one, you are going through some uncomfortable period of adjustment to it. It takes time, efforts, and patience to start enjoying a new thing. You need to exert some psychological and mental efforts to accept a new thing in your life as something that you want and therefore are ready to sacrifice for it with a temporary discomfort in order to get a better quality of your life in the future.
Sometimes such a period of adjustment is completely acceptable due to the obvious benefits in the future. When you change an old computer for a new one, more modern and efficient, which would definitely improve the quality of your work, then there is no question about it. But in many cases the old computer still works good and your work doesn't require much higher quality of it, and then there appears a question about the change.
You may have the same dilemma, when you face the necessity of changing your running technique. First of all, there is not too much evidence that you need to change. The traditional paradigm, stating that running is a "natural" movement doesn't support your thoughts about changing technique. So, why should you do it? The next problem is that there is uncertainty about running technique in running and science communities. In order to learn something, we need to know what to learn and how to learn? This is about the model of running and the method of teaching it.
This is what any runner, who got the idea of changing his running technique, faces. And this is the first mental and psychological obstacle he needs to overcome. It would be good if there were someone with experience and knowledge, who could help you to make your choice and do some steps towards your goal. But what, if there is none? Then you are on your own and have to do your own search about its benefits or drawbacks.
Newcomers to the Pose Method are mostly brought by word of mouth (friends, colleagues, coaches) and by nagging injuries. Very seldom they make a decision by a pure desire to change technique. Behind a desire there are always some needs and necessities, which we sometimes do not even realize. Nevertheless, traditionally, everybody is going through some unpleasant time of re-adjustment of their habits and their mind.
The first problem comes from our previous mind set. Even when you are sure about the necessity to change your technique, some hard time dealing with your emotional discomfort, muscle soreness and reduced ability to run fast or long as before, could make you start questioning your decision.
The second problem is your perception, which was undeveloped because there was no need to use it. The Pose Method technique is based on high level of perception of your body weight, its location in your feet during support and precise timing of your efforts.
The third problem is your mental focus which must be on very specific movement, when you are on support - on pulling the foot from the ground. This action goes against common sense and existing knowledge about interaction with support.
The fourth problem is your understanding of the leading role of gravity and its application in running. You need to learn using your muscles to serve gravity and integrate all forces in running.
Beside this, you need to remember that learning is a process of moving from known to unknown and therefore it requires your efforts to overcome the fear of unknown and needs your persistence to learn new perceptions.
Dr.Romanov
