Have you heard of ChiWalking and ChiRunning yet?

If you like to excercise then you know about Tai Chi  - that meditative form of martial art (it looks like slow-mo kung fu). But have your heard about ChiRunning® and ChiWalking® yet?

ChiWalking blends the health benefits of walking with the core principles of Tai Chi. Walking is low-impact, and probably the healthiest form of daily exercise for all of us.

As with Pilates, yoga and Tai Chi, ChiWalking and ChiRunning both emphasize body alignment and mindfulness and at the same time they strengthen the core muscles of your body.

Advantages include:

1. Reduce pounding and pain
2. Reduce dependence on leg muscles
3. Run hills safely and effectively
4. Reduce the chance of injury
5. Increase your endurance

I recently had a Chi Walking and Running class with Hazel Wood from StridebyStride.com. Hazel is a Certified ChiRunning and ChiWalking Instructor who has learned from Danny Dreyer, the inventor of these techniques. Hazel now teaches these techniques to individuals and groups. They are great techniques for injury free walking and running based on Tai Chi principles.

The five mindful steps of ChiWalking:

1. Get aligned
2. Engage your core
3. Create balance
4. Make a choice
5. Move forward 

Stride by Stride coach Hazel Wood teaches ChiRunning® and ChiWalking® to runners and walkers of all abilities. Think this kind of health coaching can help you out? Contact Hazel for a free consultation.

The Chi Walking and Chi Running books by Danny Dreyer are also highly recommended: