Tai Chi Walking: A Low-Impact Path to Better Health

by Robert Chuckrow

Walking should be one of the most natural things we do. Most of us have been walking almost all of our lives. However, many have learned walking in a haphazard way. Wearing improper shoes, modeling ourselves after others whose walking is inefficient, and wrong ideas about how our body works are all factors that take their toll on us over time. Because walking is natural, it is not hard to improve it to the point where it becomes meditation and improves our health at the same time. For Tai Chi practitioners, walking provides an excellent opportunity to augment, refine, and reinforce Tai Chi principles and bridge the gap between formal practice and everyday life. For non-practitioners, Tai Chi Walking trains us in walking concepts for improving health, balance, peace-of-mind and safety.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health

152 pages, Paperback

First published November 25, 2002

About the author

Robert Chuckrow (born in 1936) has studied T’ai Chi, Ch’i Kung, and other movement and healing arts since 1970 under masters such as Cheng Man-ch’ing, William C.C. Chen, Elaine Summers, Alice Holtman, Harvey I. Sober, Kevin Harrington, and Chin Fan-siong. He has taught T’ai Chi extensively, is certified as a master teacher of Kinetic Awareness®, and has authored six books: The Intelligent Dieter’s Guide, Historical Tuning of Keyboard Instruments, The Tai Chi Book, Tai Chi Walking, Tai Chi Dynamics, and Tai Chi Concepts and Experiments. His The Tai Chi Book was a finalist among the three best books in the health/medicine category in the Independent Publisher Book Awards. His book, Tai Chi Dynamics, was honored in the martial-arts / alternative-health category by the Independent Publisher Online Magazine Highlighted Title Program, was a finalist in ForeWord Magazine’s 2008 Book of the Year Awards, won the Eric Hoffer book award, and won the best-book award in health: exercise and fitness from USA Book News. He has produced four videos, which in addition to his books on diet and historical tuning, are available from www.chuckrowtaichi.com.

Chuckrow, whose Ph.D. is in experimental physics, has taught physics at NYU, The Cooper Union, Fieldston, and other schools for forty-three years.

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

The title caught my eye and prompted me to read it because of my new interest in Tai Chi. However, it would be better suited, called Tai Chi Tips on Health and Exercise Practices.

Text incorporates everything from philosophical principles, proper alignment and balance and mechanics of walking (running) to vision improvement, and care of the feet to walking environment, problems of the lower extremities to aerobic exercise.

Despite some odd (and random) bits of information that could venture into an overly technical range, I found at least half or more of this book quite useful to me. Particularly the chapter on improper ankle alignment causing knee issues. Even after going to physical therapy last year for a knee injury, I had never had this misalignment addressed by anyone, nor did I know how little time and effort that it took to correct the problem. For that aspect along I wish to give this book five stars.

Realistically, readers will find varying degrees of help here depending on your perspective.

Nevertheless, I found it quite readable and plan to look up this author’s book, The Tai Chi Book: Refining and Enjoying a Lifetime of Practice.

[Astratow · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title of the book is misleading which is great failure of this not that bad otherwise. I thought it would be something to do with tai chi and I hoped I will find some hints about walking meditation. Wrong anticipation. Walking should be the title without that Tai chi bit.
But title is not a book so let's have a look throug it. This is sort of story telling by old man. There are anegdotes which can be only said by aged person. You will find quite a bit knowledge about phisic, medicine, astronomy, survival and even tai chi or other martial arts. But greatest subject is walking, hygiene of your feet and it's maintenance (ie. massage, some helping exercises etc.) . You will find advise about healthy eating, ways to improve you sight and many others.
In these aspects book is fairly interesting.
It sugests exercises but most of them are just described without pictures or drawings.
Overall I think it is valuable and informative texr which lacks exercise graphics and right title. Otherwise ir might be a moog read.

[Bharata Satria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Saya biasa memraktekkan kaidah Tai Chi ketika berolahraga jalan pagi. Suatu ketika saya keliru melangkah dan terpelanting sejauh tiga meter, butuh waktu dua bulan untuk sembuh dari cedera akibat insiden ini tapi saya menyadari betapa hebat potensi kaidah Tai Chi dalam bergerak.

Saya membeli buku ini berharap bisa menganalisa apa yang terjadi dan melihat apa yang bisa diterapkan lebih lanjut, tapi ternyata saya keliru. Buku ini cuma buku gerak jalan biasa. Entah di mana Tai Chi nya.

[Darryl L. Rowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absorb what is useful

And make it your own. I took an interest in Tai Chi while visiting Hong Kong in the 70's.

This author kicks it up a notch and I will see what else I can learn and apply.

[Kara Rowley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

[Sue]

some good iniformation about the physics and mechanics of walking. Chukrow is a physicist, and he is quite methodical and scientific. Not a stellar book, but some good info on walking mechanics. If you walk, and are sore, it's worth looking at, as it might give you some clue as to what's out of kilter.

[Alan · Rating 2 out of 5]

An ok book, but not much tai chi to it, except author's occasional "sending chi" to some injured area. No hints on how to accomplish this.