There is a difference between "a practice" and "to practice." Those of us who played competitive sports sometimes were not enthused about a going "to a practice." Practice meant repeating fitness and skills drills, listening to yelling coaches, pushing ourselves to new physical limits, competing with others, doing extra pushups for inattention, etc. Having a practice, a long-term fitness avocation, a mind-body engagement, a spiritual gong-fu, a ritual for well-being, an engaging and enriching pastime, a self-determined commitment to good healthy activites, a non-competitive and non-judgmental path to inner and outward growth ... now this kind of practice enriches both body, mind and spirit for a lifetime.
"Allow walking to occupy a place of stature
equal with all the other important activities in your life. As
difficult as that might seem, here's how to do it. Make it a practice.
That's right. Turn your walking into a vehicle for personal growth as well
as for fitness. This will add a higher level of integrity and intention to
your approach because you will find that it is a way to deepen and upgrade your
relationship to your body. Instead of merely giving your legs a good
workout, you'll be practicing to relax more, to breathe better, to expand your
vision, to open up your range of motion, to increase your energy, to feel and
sense your body. The list is exciting - and endless. With all of
this to look forward to, your walking program will take its place alongside
everything in your life you value most, and you'll be amazed at how easy it is
to schedule time for something you really love to do."
- Katherine Dreyer, Chi Walking, p. 56
Chi
Walking: The Find Mindful Steps for Lifelong Health and Energy. By
Danny Dreyer and Katherine Dreyer. New York, Simon and Shuster, Fireside
Books, 2006. Index, 258 pages. ISBN: 0743267206.
The Ways of Walking
Walking Quotations 3
