5 comments about Step-By-Step Tai Chi.

1. Very useful. The first section provides stretching exercises to improve and maintain flexibility. The next section includes exercises to increase and improve strength. The final section provides easy-to-understand instructions for performing the "small circle" form Tai-Chi routines.



2. Purchased as a gift for a lady recovering from back surgery. Excellent reference book for a beginning Tai Chi student.



3. This is a very easy to understand book with simple, easy to follow instructions. I was having very painful sciatic pain in my left hip and after 2 weeks of doing the Tai Chi exercises, it went away over night. Nothing else had helped the problem. I know other people who have struggled with sciatic pain for years so I am very impressed with this book and will continue to do the exercises.



4. This is a wonderfully illustrated book, that teaches you step by step instructions on Tai Chi.
   It is also great for older adults to learn balance.



5. This "step by step" book is very helpful. So far I have only used the first set of 18 movements, but they are completely and accurately described. The movements are very helpful in increasing balance and strength.

5 comments about The Dao of Taijiquan: Way to Rejuvenation (Tai Chi).

1. When I bought this book, my financial circumstances were such that the purchase was probably not justified, but my thirst for knowledge about the art compelled me to do so anyway. I met Master Jou in a qi gong workshop that he conducted. His love for tai ji was evident and infectious. I requested that he show me the power of tai ji and he responed by tossing me across the room as if I were a rag doll. At the time, he was 69 years old and I was a 20-something taekwondo black belt. I've been involved in the study of tai ji for more than 30 years now and this book still makes my short list of the best books on the topic available.



2. I have had this book around for years.... I am assuming it hasn't changed much in it's revision... but I could be wrong. It is a great reference for many aspects of Taijiquan.
   
   My two biggest reservations about recommending this book are:
   
   1. Having seen the authors Tai Chi Chuan form on YouTube, I would question at least his application of proper body structure, however, that may not mean that the book is in any way deficient... it's just that I was dissapointed to see the author demonstrating his Tai Chi Chuan.
   
   2. Unless I have an older revision of the book... the illustrations of the Yang Style Form have a couple of spots where the drawings are either completely out of order, wrong, or both. If these drawings alone were correct, it would make a fantastic reference for Yang Style enthusiasts. I can't speak for the other Tai Chi style forms, but am pretty sure the Traditional Yang Cheng Fu for is messed up at a couple of points. I highly recommend that the publisher revises the book and fixes that issue. I'm surprised that reading the reviews that I didn't see more comments on those errors. If they fixed this, i'd add a star to the rating!
   
   I do find the book to be very informative in many ways, but I would recommend discernment, as I would with any book like this.



3. It helped me answer some important questions I was searching for. As any serious Taiji practitioner knows any little breakthrough is worth its share in gold. As I write this review I have just started to read chapter 3. I think I'm going to learn a whole lot when I am done with the book. Thank You Jou Tsung Hwa for sharing your experience!



4. Great book. If i may dare say, written with a clear mind and generous spirit. I have practised qigong for some time and of course have an interest in tai chi, this book connects the two beautifully. Not a book that teaches you tai chi forms, but still very much a book that beginners can follow. The focus is on what is generally known as taiji qigong, qi flow, generated through breathing and guided by movement and intention. Once this foundation is established, the student can then move on to forms. This foundation is explained beautifully here, and clearly. You won't find this anywhere else. If you have an interest in qigong, you will really appreciate this book. Very well written, what a pleasure it is to see the full stops within the quotation marks. Photos are bit dodgy but still clear. Thank you to the now late Zhao.



5. but I want to say that almost everyone I know who gets into Tai Ji gets too into Tai Ji.
   
   
   But then again it might be hard to really overdo it with Tai Ji.
   
   
   It's a long story.
   
   
   Anyhow please read this book and ask questions: it's a real profound journey this whole Tai Ji thing.
   
   
   People always say they don't have patience to learn this: but that's exactly why it makes sense to perservere!!
   
   
   Ephraim Jeffrey

5 comments about Complete Idiot's Guide to T'ai Chi and QiGong (Book & DVD).

1. This is my teacher. I wanted the book he wrote as well as his latest DVD (available at Amazon). Wonderful--there is lots of great info here as well as instruction in Tai Chi and Qigong movement.



2. Misleading-----thought that we were getting a dvd for instruction as well as the book. The book is to difficult to follow but the author will be more than glad to sell you another dvd for instruction. I wish that I had not wasted the money!



3. It is amusing reading some of the reviews of this book. In spite of what some of the previous reviewers stated, this is a very good book to learn the basics of Tai Chi and QiGong. As for the author creating his own system, so what? If he has studied these arts under previous masters for many years, he is free to create his own method of doing Tai Chi or QiGong. Most of the so called masters did the very same thing. They learned from someone else and than created their own Tai Chi or QiGong system. This is an excellent text for beginners in Tai Chi who are also taking it from an instructor. Rating: 5 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Martial Art Myths, Season of the Warrior, Never Trust a Politician, Monadnock Defensive Tactics System, Use of the Monadnock Straight baton, PR-24 Police Baton Advanced Techniques).



4. I have been a TaiChi practitioner for more than 10 years.
   TaiChi is also one kind of Qigong (ch'i kung).
   My life experience about TaiChi: it is life, healthy, and powerful, if a learner is on the right track.
   
   I think this book is as good as lots original Qigong books in Chinese.
   
   
   Sam Song
   Author,
   Learning Chinese The Easy Way with great fun and joy!



5. It is a good book and DVD, but I was hoping for a DVD I could work out with. Now I need to buy his DVD also.
   
   Sandra

5 comments about The Healing Promise of Qi: Creating Extraordinary Wellness Through Qigong and Tai Chi.

1. This was a very informative introduction to Chinese medicine written by
   an American who became a Chinese doctor. The only criticism would be the
   description of exercises to maximize "chi". A video/DVD is a much
   better tool. I highly recommend this for those interested in a
   different but highly successful approach to health care.



2. great info on your own self. you can learn to heal yourself with your own self. easy gentle excerises that can have a great effect if one is consistant with the practice. Also read THE HEALER WITHIN by same author.



3. I approached this book as a novice and not as a member of the choir to whom the author is preaching. I've been doing QiGong on a daily basis for some time using a DVD by Daisy and Francesco Garripoli. I've found Qigong to be enjoyable and relaxing. If done well it approaches an art form which adds to the interest. I use Qigong as part of a healthy life style, which includes; some Tai Chi, aerobic activities, good diet and maintenance of proper weight (possibly the most important factor of all).
   Given the title, and having read the book, I ask myself now why I bought it. The answer is simple curiosity. The idea of chi being defined as a life force was believable. I would prefer to define it as the indefinable something that explains the difference between life and death. It makes sense that your life force will be improved by maintaining a healthy body; if, in fact, it exists in a state other than "on" or "off". Some of the discussion of ones' mental state, and modification thereof appears beneficial. I have a problem when the author delves deeply into the alleged spiritual aspects of chi. There is never a mention of God, but the concepts smack of what I'd call a "nature cult".
   Being completely healthy I have no need or compelling reason to believe the medical claims of chi or Qigong. Given that, I read the medical information with a critical eye. The fact that guided physical movements are beneficial is not a revelation of the Chinese. Physical therapy is used for a variety of problems with great success. Using qigong or any form of exercise that tones the entire body makes a great deal of sense, as any doctor will tell you. A healthy body is less prone to disease.
   The book has a number of good ideas at a rational level that are worthwhile. I especially like the concept of Yin and Yang. It is an interesting way to look at the many things, often conflicting, in one's life and provides some understanding and balance.
   This is not the book to buy if you are interested in physical qigong. There is precious little in the book. A good DVD works. Qigong figures are simpler than Tai Chi and can be learned from a DVD. Of course, a good teacher would be the best choice.
   Other than the philosophical differnce my biggest criticism of the book is that it is too long. The author uses repetition and word volume to explain his esoteric concepts.
   Other than the above, the book is well written and referenced. At one point the author does provide some very practical advice; i.e., see a medical doctor for a physical problem and a psychiatrist for a mental problem.



4. This book is a fantastic, comprehensive book on chi. It walks through the phases of cultivating chi (gathering, circulating, ect) and goes on to transmitting chi/healing. it gives info on the culture of chi and .... bottom line, if you buy this book - you won't need another book on Chi for a long time.
   
   I think this book is a great introduction, to provide a great overview , that also gives practice methods. In addition, I think this would be a great book for reference for someone who is experienced. I especially like the appendix where Jenkhe links Chi with new age and science.



5. The book I ordered was delivered in precisely the described condition and timely. Good job!

5 comments about Tai Chi Chuan: 24 & 48 Postures with Martial Applications.

1. This book is about the 'new' 24 step Yang style tai chi, as
   well as the 48 step set. The book has good photos along with
   well written instructions about the different moves as well
   as the actual applications. The author is truly a master, and
   he has the ability to explain well tai chi movements in a book.
   There are many other books out there about all this, but this
   book and the author deserve a 5 star rating.



2. Good book. The pictures could be better. They are simply gray, informative enough, but not as good as the cover page. Still 5 stars.



3. I really enjoyed this book since it acts as an excellent guide to students of Tai Chi Chuan. This book seems more of an excellent buy for the Westerners trying to learn Tai Chi. It introduces the person to both the first 24 and 48 form of the book in an excellent way. Going into deep detail about the fighting applications of the first 24 form and then teaching the moves for the next 48 form, leaving the practitioner in a good place to go and find an instructor or more advanced book.



4. With all the hype given in the reviews I guess I was expecting too much. It is a good book, but it wouldn't be my first choice if I was a novice and wanted to learn Tai Chi. I would recommend a video to those who want to learn and practice.
   
   DG Ft.Lauderdale



5. both book and dvd are great companions. worth the money to learn tai chi chuan

5 comments about Sunrise Tai Chi: Simplified Tai Chi for Health & Longevity.

1. I must say I had some energy-work experience not just from Tai Chi or Qi Gong excercises, but also from visualistation excercises and so. But in spite of that I found "Sunrise Tai Chi" useful and helpful. There are some common things to person who is familiar with "chakras" or "energy flow" terms, but excercises, which the book concentrates on, are still really good. So I mixed my expierience with Ramel Rones' teachings and it is very successful mix.
   
   With just one sentence I could describe it as how to pracitise theory learnt earlier and benefit from both. Recommened!



2. For someone looking for a solid introduction into basic principles of Tai Chi, this would be a helpful book; especially if you want more than just lists of forms but would like information on eastern ideas of body energy.
   
   However, if you are looking for a simple, effective exercise plan built around Tai Chi principles, I would recommend that you purchase the DVD.



3. Tai Chi is a relatively new form of exercise and mental conditioning for me after a life of Martial Arts. I found this book straightforward, easy to follow and I would highly recommend it to anyone new to the practice. I would like to see his book for Sunset Tai Chi, too. I would recommend also picking up Mr. Rones' DVD of the same title.
   
   As always, I find the YMAA products a highly valued addition to my library and suggest if you don't have any of their works, to find some and include them in your readings or viewing. Health. Peace.



4. Have been through about half of the book and find it to be a very interesting read and even purchased the matching DVD. Recommended to anyone looking to learn more about Tai Chi



5. Ordered the book based on the 5 star reviews. Found it to dry and hard to read not at all what I was looking for. If you are looking for a book on Tai Chi exercise as I was look someplace else this book is not for you. If you want to read about the origins and history of Tai Chi you might love the book.

5 comments about Tai Chi for Beginners and the 24 Forms.

1. This may be the best book about Yang 24. It is well written and has great photos. The best way to learn tai chi is with a qualified instructor but this book is good for beginners or someone trying to hone his/her skills.



2. Book was received within promised shipping period. It was rated in good condition but I found it in very good condition, almost unused. I am very pleased with this seller.



3. This is a great book for anyone who wants to use tai chi to relax and heal their bodies, minds, and spirits. It will help you to center on your breathing and learn the most commonly practiced style of tai chi in the world. This book emphasizes that tai chi can be practiced by people in all walks of life and not only experts. It explains how the unblocked flow of chi in the body can vastly improve all aspects of your life. You don't have to be a master to feel the benefits, and this book explains how tai chi can be a great model for self-care. Tai chi is gentle yet very powerful if practiced regularly, and this book is a good start for anyone.



4. This book is excellent and I recommend it to anyone who is planning to purchase any Tai Chi DVD or contemplating to start any Tai Chi program. It is essential to understand the inner working of the forms before one starts Tai Chi and Dr. Lam explains it very well. It will be a lot easier to follow the DVD after the book is read.



5. I came across this book in my doctors office while in for a fibromyalgia follow up. I was captivated by it, absolutely captivated. The quality of the pages in this book is awesome. The lesson illustrations are gorgeous and comprehensible (see the image I uploaded for an example page). My doctor is a 1-year student, and we talked about how it might help me with my fibro issues. Coincidentally (?) the New York Times had just published an article on August 18th, 2010 about how tai chi has been found to help fibro patients. An excerpt is here:
   
   "A clinical trial at Tufts Medical Center found that after 12 weeks of tai chi, patients with fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition, did significantly better in measurements of pain, fatigue, physical functioning, sleeplessness and depression than a comparable group given stretching exercises and wellness education. Tai chi patients were also more likely to sustain improvement three months later."
   ([...])
   
   I really hate the need I have to take powerful meds and narcotics to control my symptoms, and I'm hoping Tai Chi can replace some, if not all, of them. So I bought the book, signed up for a 10 week beginner class with my doctors instructor, and I can't wait to get started. I'll definitely be using this book in my practice sessions at home to gain proficiency with the moves.
   
   A word of warning - this book is definitely for the first timers and relative newbies. I wouldn't recommend it for intermediate or advanced students. Unless you just want to have it in your collection or in your office for others to see.

5 comments about ChiWalking: Fitness Walking for Lifelong Health and Energy.

1. Who would have thought that by changing the way you have always walked you could alleviate pain, add to your endurance walking and enjoy this very normal form of movement. Simple to follow steps to improving your main mode of transportation. Very enlightening. I want to take the instructors course and teach others this method.



2. I have the Chi Running Book and have even taken the class and I knew I wanted to understand the Chi Walking technique. This method is completely injury free. I have never been a runner or a great walker and this is enabling me to do both with no pain and definite gain. I highly recommend this book and methodology.



3. 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.



4. This is a good book to learn Chi-walking. In my opinion, you need a second person to help you learn. Very hard to do it on your own. He explains it well enough but you need that person to help with the placement of your feet and your posture.



5. Kept waiting for this book to tell me something useful. What a waste of time.

5 comments about The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance.

1. Ok, I'm not really comparing this book to Herman Hesse's Siddhartha. Siddhartha is a classic in literature and I don't mean to falsely compare. Although, there is an interesting parallel. Some reviewers think that this book is too narrowly focused on Mr. Waitzin's experiences. Others believe it to be too amorphous. Either way, if one believes either of the opposing views then Siddhartha (and a lot of other classics) would hold absolutely no value to them.
   
   Some of us already know some of the truths in this book. We've applied them throughout our lives. But maybe we didn't consciously recognize them. As such these truths would be hard to improve upon or pass on to others. It is also valuable to hear them enunciated by another. I plan to buy this book for 4 friends. It is my hope that this book will provide some introspection for them to continue their accomplishments. I don't doubt these same people would continue to excel but it is useful to have a coach point to areas of focus and other paths to learning.
   
   Yes, this book is "vague" in some respects. If you are looking for a book on mental tricks to learning and a step-by-step guide then this book is not right for you. You are looking in the wrong area. If you want more personal advice then you probably need to enlist a coach of the type used by Mr. Waitzkin and other top performers. This book is more along the lines of "Chess Praxis" than "Bobby Fisher Teaches Chess."
   
   Take this book as an introduction to improving your performance in any endeavor and life in general.
   As someone that also values mental and physical pursuits I value the cross pollinated discussion of the two.



2. Interesting that this book is called "The Art Of Learning". It's about so much more. Or is it that learning spans so much more than we think it does? Did I say "think"? This book definitely makes you think. So it takes a while to read. You go through a page or two, then you put it down with that faraway look because once again, Josh got your brain going.
   
   It's been a year or so since I've last looked at this book, and purposely, I won't go and pick it up to refer to it. Let me tell you one of the many things that have so powerfully stayed with me in the last 12 months. After all, that's what a really good book does: it'll keep speaking to you, whether it's handy or not.
   
   There is a story when Josh was at a chess tournament and one of his rivals kept surreptitiously and viciously kicking him just at the wrong moment in order to distract him. Josh lost that round of the tournament but he used it as an opportunity to learn. He realized that he was more distracted by his own thoughts ("I can't believe he's doing this!" "How unethical!" "How come no-one is doing anything about this?!") than by his rival's actions. Josh then went on to systematically train himself to become inured to such distractions. His willingness to take complete and utter responsibility for (and therefore control of) his reactions has made a tremendous and lasting impression on me, so much so that since I have told countless clients and friends about it.



3. Other reviewers have already articulated my exact thoughts on the matter, so I'll just second the assertion that the title is misleading because it's a more of an autobiography than anything else.



4. Apparently I read a different book than most of the reviewers here. As an avid chess player and one who's interested in self-actualization, I was naturally drawn to Waitzkin's work. As so many others have pointed out, this book is more auto-biographical than a guide to learning. In that I've seen the movie and read the book 'Searching for Bobby Fischer', I know all that I need to from a biographical perspective. Really had very little interest in Tai Chi Push Hands and Josh's competitive experiences in this discipline. In fact, I have no idea what Push Hands even is, except that it's some type of martial art.
   
   If you're looking for books on learning and growth, there are scores of other titles readily available and vastly superior to this one. Check out: 'Flow', 'Peak Learning', any of several books by Edward De Bono, any of several books by psychologist Aaron Beck, Focusing, etc. etc.. If you haven't read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, written by Robert Pirsig, one of the endorsers of Waitzkin's book, do so, it's a masterpiece.
   
   If you want to read a decent autobiography, 'Searching for Bobby Fischer' is better than the subject title.
   
   Hope that helps.



5. The Art of Learning is not about learning. At least a couple reviewers said it ought to be retitled, "The Art of Josh." This is a pretty good idea. But a perhaps even more accurate title would be, "Some Basic Truisms about Sports Psychology."
   
   The first 50 pages of the book begin innocently enough. I was enjoying it quite a bit. Josh tells his story as a child chess-champion and national celebrity. It's a rather charming story, which is probably why they made a movie of it. Waitzkin also lays out a few introductory ideas about learning theory, namely that the idea that intelligence is fixed is a fallacy, and that anyone can learn. Wonderful theme! Worthy of a whole book! But this is the last we hear of learning theory, and the last we hear of how ordinary people are prone to underestimating their ability.
   
   It is clear that Waitzkin did almost no research into learning theory for his book. He references no more than two or three theories and studies. This really shows a great lack of effort in versing oneself in the subject matter one claims to be an expert on. Learning theory is actually a hugely active field in academia. It's been a hot topic for decades among psychologists, and studies are published just about every day in the study of learning. Then there is a whole other more theoretical field of education philosophy: what the aims of learning should be, and what are the best ways to learn and teach. Don't expect any of this kind of discussion from Waitzkin. This book was a marvelous opportunity to popularize and synthesize scholarly work in the field of learning, the conclusions of which are very uplifting in their insistence on human possibility.
   
   But Josh is more interested in mulling over himself. After the story of his childhood ends and he expounds his one basic idea about learning, the rest of the book is all about his tai chi (much less interesting than chess); his armchair dabblings in Taoism, Kerouac, and Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance; and his commonplace tips on competitive psychology. Josh tells us all about his coming of age and transition into manhood. The story loses all its charm here. The book becomes a phallocentric and narcissistic male fantasy. Josh talks about he moves to Slovenia to be with his femme fatale girlfriend, escaping the suffocating fame surrounding him in New York, hiking through the mountains of Balkans thinking about chess and Taoism, being a dharma bum and backpacking through Europe playing chess tournaments, waxing philosophical about being a winner. When I read this portion of the book I got the impression that Waitzkin in his fame is cut off from and doesn't understand the way life is for ordinary people.
   
   You can tell this is the case because the book lacks warmth and compassion. It's not about learning, its about "destroying opponents." Not once does Josh say, "you don't need to be a world-champ to be a somebody." He never says, "whether its gardening or being a great parent that you want to learn, you are a champion in your own right." No -- it's all about how to kill your opponents, how to win fights with a broken arm, and how to stay focused during grueling six-hour struggles. The books devolves into chapter after chapter of banal tips about how to compete, stuff Josh is too self-absorbed to realize is not relevant to any audience other than himself. You hear several times about how he likes to wash his face and do a 100 meter dash to clear his mind during a chess game. Or, how eating greasy food before a tai chi fight is bad. Thanks, Josh. Next time I'm at the World Championship of Awesomeness I will remember that. One whole chapter is about how Josh allegedly conquered this other guy's performance anxiety by having him build up calming associations to Bob Dylan and other things, and recalling these associations right before he was expected to perform. This amounts to nothing more than a dumbed down lesson in Skinnerian classical conditioning (experiments famously conducted on dogs, let's recall). If Josh truly thinks you can attain transcendental focus just by linking it to a proverbial jingle of a bell, then he really has no concept of the depth of human psychology. (On that note, David Foster Wallace once correlated professional sports performers with profoundly simple psychological makeups.) But I don't think Josh actually believes this; he was just trying to fill up pages because he ran out of things to say about learning theory about 150 pages ago.
   
   If I had the opportunity to write a book like this, I would use every word trying to uncondition people from the tragic fallacy that they are static creatures and cannot learn new proficiencies and raise their overall intelligence. In this culture, the cult of the champion is just a reflection of the sad myth of making us all believe we're born-losers and lack the stuff of greatness. So we give up and limit ourselves. Education, media, and scientific institutions all conspire to tell us we cannot change ourselves and our lot in life is perfectly just. Josh doesn't understand any of this because he is the typical champion. His book is about being a winner, with the occasional addition made by his editors about seizing the day "in the boardroom" (ugh). It is therefore an alienating read that is not likely to motivate and instruct ordinary people in growing as individuals. The truth is, you don't need some spoiled narcissist who can't write, like Josh, tell you how to grow. The power lies within.
   
   A person interested in studying learning theory and how to be a more "effective" person ought to, instead, begin by browsing by category "Learning" on Wikipedia and discovering the immense amount of topics in the field.

5 comments about ChiRunning: A Revolutionary Approach to Effortless, Injury-Free Running.

1. This book has a lot of good help for those with injuries. It takes time to learn the concepts but it is worth it.



2. Filled with a bunch of Chi Shmmee mystical crap. Lots of BS filler to make it to the publisher's page quota. I can summarize this book's running advice for you in two words. LEAN FORWARD.
   
   Don't waist your money.



3. Excellent source for running information. Very easy to read. ChiRunning makes sense and the results speak for themselves



4. Have not finished book yet but already getting tired of author plugging his DVD .Plug it at the end of the book but spare us from mentioning it multiple times in the book.



5. I am an asthmatic who has always wanted to run, but I never thought I would be able to run for over a few minutes. I read this book in it's first edition as a library book and it became such an integral part of my excercise program that I renewed it and then came back to the library the day after I finally had to return it so I could check it out again. I decided to buy it without delay. I love the new edition with the different organization and information. I am a beginning runner and started running with this program when I was 40 lbs overweight. Now, about two months later, I have lost 20 pounds and had no injuries. When I started I could barely run for 2 minutes. Now I can run for 20 minutes without to much fatigue. I have also gone off one of my asthma medications, and am hopeful that I will no longer need any medication as my distances and times increase. I am less stressed and more energized than I have ever ben in my life. The form taught in this book is mostly responsible for my success. I also have a history of back pain, and I had none because of the "leveled pelvis" and low impact taught in this book. Very easy to read, common-sense techniques that apply to the rest of your life as well. I am a Senior Vocal Performance Major in college, and the principals have also helped me greatly with my singing. This is a must-buy for anyone who wants to run in a way that is fun, energizing, and efficient.