The Yin–Yang model that explains everything Most people think running is just “go out and run”. But running is a constant negotiation between Yin and Yang, and when one side dominates, the body pays the price. Let’s break it down simply. 🟣 Yin in Running = Absorption Yin is everything that happens when your foot hits the ground: • absorbing force • controlling the landing • organising joints • storing elastic energy • shaping the body for the next step If Yin is weak, you can’t absorb force properly — your landings feel heavy and inefficient. If Yin is too strong, you land beautifully… but you can’t bounce off the ground quickly. You feel slow, flat, and powerless. Both create long‑term problems. 🔥 Yang in Running = Expression Yang is the push‑off: • expressing force • projecting the body forward • pushing against the floor • releasing stored energy If Yang is weak, you can’t push off hard or move fast. If Yang is too strong, you slam into the ground with no control, no strategy, and you waste energy. Different imbalance → different problems → different injuries. 🌀 The Full & Empty Principle (The Missing Link) Running is not just Yin and Yang at one time, in fact During gait: The stance leg + opposite shoulder = FULL (Yang) • heavy • grounded • force‑producing • pushing down and back This is the hard Yang that propels you forward. The swing leg + opposite shoulder = EMPTY (Yin) • light • lifted • receiving momentum • preparing the next step This is the Yin that catches the wave created by the Yang. And here’s the magic: 👉 after push off, when force has been released, the empty side is about to become the full side, and the full side that has just released the yang energy, is about to become the Yin side. This constant exchange is what makes running smooth, elastic, and efficient. When this exchange is off, injuries happen. 🧩 When Yin Is TOO Strong (and Yang Too Weak) Too much absorption, not enough expression This is the runner who collapses into the landing, sinks, folds, wobbles and might struggle with achieving time goals and see improvement in their pace/speed.