ChiWalking: Fitness Walking for Lifelong Health and Energy Paperback – Illustrated, April 4, 2006

This book will motivate you to get out and walk. The five mindful steps of ChiWalking are described in depth including alignment and balance. Chi skills, i.e., flexibility and breathing are discussed along with ChiWalking techniques. Twelve different walking plans are provided allowing you to design your own walking program. My personal favorite in the book is the section on hiking.I do, however, have one small complaint. The covers on my copy, both front and back, curl up like a paper towel roll. While not critical to the contents, it could have an adverse impact on the longevity of the book if you, like me, reference the information multiple times and then bend the covers while sliding it back in the bookcase. Even with the curly covers, though, this is one of the best walking guides I've read and I would definitely recommend it for your walking pleasure.

A neighbor encouraged me to see her physican who specializes in back pain. During my first visit with Dr. Irene Minkowsky she suggested things I could do to help eliminate my lower back pain. She had a copy of "Chi Walking" in her waiting room. In that the way I was walking contributed to my symptoms, she recommended I try CHI Walking. Danny and Katherine Dryers book is easy to read & has good advice on posture, body alignment and how to strengthing our core muscles.

****"ChiWalking: The Five Mindful Steps for Lifelong Health and Energy" is a life-changing book for a walker. ChiWalking is essentially a way of using the body's energy system to maximize your walking experience. This encompasses a variety of things, from the form or posture you use when walking, to how you move, to what you think of or meditate on or focus on, and much more.Before I started ChiWalking, I had a lot of pain in my left hip. Since learning the ChiWalking technique, I have no more hip pain.However, I availed myself of much more than just the ChiWalking book. I started with the book, and thus understood what I needed to do and why. I am not very good at translating something from a book to action, so I wasn't able to duplicate the movements on my own from just the book alone. I would not blame this on the book, however, because the book is very clear, and would be really beneficial for those readers who can pick up mechanical movements from illustrations and exposition. I then purchased the ChiWalking DVD, which helped a lot. I saw people practicing what I had read about in the book. Still, I could not translate that into action, mainly because of my learning limitations. However, it excited me and motivated me to take a ChiWalking seminar in a nearby large city. In the seminar I received feedback as to what I was doing wrong. This was what was most helpful to me. Without the book, however, I would not have had the background to fully implement the instruction I received or to really incorporate it into my walking practice.The ChiWalking book thoroughly explains theory and practice behind ChiWalking. It is where you should start to find out if ChiWalking can help you to be a better walker. It explains all steps, skills, technique, how to design a personal program, variations such as hiking, off-road walking, and treadmill walking, plus various specially designed walks to develop your "chi" or overall energy.If you love to walk, you should own this book. If you want to walk, but have had problems doing so, you should own this book. Even if you just implement the proper form in your walking, you will benefit from reading "ChiWalking". If you are intrigued at all by the idea of your personal energy system and walking, I would highly recommend this book.****

I had ChiRunning, which had been suggested to me for the joint loosening exercises. The conversational and informative style convinced me I needed to check out ChiWalking. I like the warm ups, the focus on focusing with your mind, and emphasis in being in touch with your body. Writing this makes me want to go out for a half hour walk as soon as I can!

Excellent for an aging walker like meI am 67 and like to walk 5K, 10K, and half-marathon events whenever I can (I've been running/walking since I was 28). However, the heel land, roll to the front, and push off from the toes technique was jarring my whole body. After recently watching a group of women runners using that technique, I realized how jarring the heel landing was. I stumbled across ChiWalking and have been using this method for the past few months - what a difference. One of the most important lessons I've learned is to constantly be aware of and adjust my body's alignment. I listen to the audible audio of this book while I am walking to reinforce the technique and make adjustments.I also purchased the ChiWalk-Run DVD and will be trying out this approach for my next half-marathon in October. Ever since watching one of the episodes of the Sharpe's series (starring Sean Bean) on BBCAmerica several years ago, the episode in which he and two other men out-marched the rest of their group by doing a combination walk-run has fascinated me (I think it was the Sharpe's Rifles episode). It will sure get me to the finish line a lot faster than just walking.

This is an interesting book but like its companion, Chi Running, does not completely explain the technique. These products are leads to additional purchases of DVD, etx. I gave it three stars as it does provide informational and I assume with the DVD would give the full Monty.

How to exercise with out hurting yourself

I bought the Chi Running book two years ago, but couldn't continue jogging/running because of some old and persistent spine issues. I found the used Chi Walking book at such a great price that I decided to give it a go. There is a lot of similarities between those two books, but there are also differences, and I'm glad I have this book. The chi walking technique helps me with my everyday pain problems. I also like the "walking menu" author proposes in this book. Highly recommended.