Customer Reviews

ChiWalking: The Five Mindful Steps for Lifelong Health and Energy

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

When my grandfather had open heart surgery at age 85 some 20 years ago, he was one of the oldest people in the United States ever to have done so. The reason the doctors were willing to perform the risky surgery at all was because he was in otherwise outstanding health, primarily due to his daily two mile walks. He not only had a full recovery, but continued his routine until shortly before his death at age 98. That says a lot about the power of walking for fitness, especially for those who are unwilling or unable to run. Having said that, however, I couldn't imagine that you'd need to know much more about walking than whatever is required to motivate you do to it in the first place. Apparently I was wrong...

In this surprisingly engaging tome you will learn about intelligent walking, ways to move more efficiently and healthfully as you walk for pleasure or exercise. The authors describe a five step process: getting aligned, engaging your core, creating balance, making a choice (e.g., cardio walking, energy walking, and meditation walking), and moving forward. Contents include body alignment, balance, focus, body sensing, flexibility, breathing, and other important aspects of a healthy exercise routine. There is also some good information that compares and contrasts on- vs. off-road walking (or hiking) as well as treadmill routines. There are also short sections on nutrition, choosing proper footwear, and other peripherals too. It feels like the authors were stretching to find new things to say that were not repeats of their previous book Chi Running in many places, yet it was surprisingly good nevertheless.

Chi Running was a great book, one I've found personally quite useful, but I had very low expectations for this one. I was pleasantly surprised. It really is a pretty darn good tome, particularly if you have not read the first one.

Lawrence Kane

Author of Blinded by the Night, among other titles

****

"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 have read both the ChiWalking and the ChiRunning books. Not surprisingly, they are very similar and largely duplicate each other. However, before anyone interprets my remarks as criticism, let me state up front that that is not the case. I'm just saying that if you own one version, reading the other will not greatly expand your knowledge.

With that off my chest, I loved the ChiWalking book. It is well written and an easy read. Danny's enthusiasm for walking is contagious. The value of this book is that it not only teaches one style of walking, but it goes well beyond that in teaching a lifestyle of exercise, good nuitrition, and living a balanced life. It is the complete package. For those who have not already read ChiRunning, this will be the best $10 that you've ever spent.

I persevered with "Chi Walking" techniques long after they caused back pain thinking the pain was caused for some other reason or I just needed to polish the techniques.

In retrospect, there much misinformation in this book, but I think there are four errors of advice that affected me negatively the most.

Firstly, Dryer suggests walking with a "pelvic tilt" (or retroverted pelvis) that leads to back tension. Secondly, Dryer suggests tilting forward to walk

which stresses many muscles and encourages a hard landing on the foot. Thirdly, he suggests not pushing with the toes which fails to use the right muscles for walking. Fourthly, he allows the hands to come forward to the body's center-line which pushes the shoulders too far forward.

Gokhale's 8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back: Natural Posture Solutions for Pain in the Back, Neck, Shoulder, Hip, Knee, and Foot (Remember When It Didn't Hurt) describes "Walking as a series of forward propulsions, not falls", which is basically the opposite of "Chi Walking". Practicing Gokhale's theory and techniques for several weeks has mostly undone the damage and eliminated the pain that "Chi Walking" caused me.

If you try "Chi Walking" and it hurts, don't persevere because you've probably already mastered the techniques all too well.

The Chi Walking Technique as presented in this book has helped me clear up chronic right hip pain I've had for decades. Knee pain I've had since two goofy falls a couple of years ago, is also starting to diminish. I am walking easier than I've ever experienced in my life! Rather than feeling I'm dragging myself around my walking course, the Chi Walking protocol has taught me how to enlist proper alignment, gravity and body mindfulness to walk more powerfully yet easily. I highly recommend the book, though I think the author could have used a better editor. It is very wordy and overlong. A lot of text could have been cut while still nicely presenting the basics of this powerful body alignment technique.

While ChiRunning was the first running technique book I'd ever read, ChiWalking is definitely the first walking book I've ever set eyes on. With something that we do almost unconsciously, it's kind of silly to think that we'd need an instructional on how to put one foot in front of the other, right?

Well, news is, you should check out this book to learn how to walk injury-free--which is probably an entirely different approach than how you are walking now!

Danny's approach will help you understand your walking form, make it fun, and most of all keep you injury free while you're exercising. Let's face it, no everyone can lace up a pair of shoes and do a quick 4 miler. Many people need to walk and if you're doing it right, you'll avoid the most common injuries and nagging hip, knee, and lower back pain.

Just the same with ChiRunning, I've told many clients since being introduced to Danny's ideas and ChiWalking to pick up the book, read it front to back, and do every drill in it. Once they have they come back to me thrilled and ready to give in another shot even though their doctor has told them "never again."

The book will transform your running by allowing you to lighten up on your feet and and use less force to propel you forward. Danny's approach is Eastern and he teaches to let gravity work with you and lean into your walk while you let your legs pick up then swing forward. When you get what he teaches it's almost effortless.

This book is for all those who haven't been able to run and a must have for those with knee, hip, and lower back troubles as well. Try it for a few weeks and you'll be surprised at how good it feels!

Danny's work is a must read for all my clients, so it should be for you too!

Kevin Gianni, NCSF-CPT

Author of "The Busy Person's Fitness Solution"

I encourage anyone who misses walking due to a lack of time, a minor injury or lack of information to purchase this book. Yes, there is a correct way to walk!

They really take you through the steps to show you how to correct your posture, your attitude and outlook on walking.

It is designed to help you walk injury free, so you can walk for enjoyment as well as exercise.

If you have questions they WILL answer them for you on the web site.

No matter what age you are, this book can help.

Happy Walking

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.

Excellent instruction in natural walking techniques that are easy to learn. I felt the increased efficiency and and lower impact on my knee joints almost immediately.

Just start! As we face higher and higher fuel prices and skyrocketing vehicle sticker prices, we feel we do not have many choices. We forget that our greatest gift from GOD is the power of choice. By accident as well as by design, I am slowly remembering my own power of choice. I choose not to be a slave to the fuel industry nor any other manifestation of man's power.

I have incorporated conscious walking into my daily life. I have always walked for health and recreation, and now I am walking by conscious choice. As I am walking at lunch, walking to assignments and walking to take public transportation, I am learning that I am healthy and I am powerful. As all things do, Chi Walking arrived just when it was suppose to in my life. As I read through the chapters I found that walking and meditating, praying to GOD for guidance in my busy life, all have purpose.

You, too, may find that inspiration from Chi Walking can add time to your life. You can combine meditation with healthful and purposeful walking. Danny and Katherine are renowned running coaching who have taken a basic motor function (walking) and elevated it to an art.