About ChiRunning and ChiWalking:

​

During this retreat, you’ll learn to use your core muscles to create whole-body movement, reducing the stress and strain on your hips, legs, knees and feet. You’ll still look like a regular runner or walker but you’ll be improving your posture and balance, strengthening your core, and experiencing how less effort is really better for your whole body. Managing your energy and the flow of your Chi offers you lifelong skills for health and vitality. Sound biomechanics combined with deep listening to your body creates fluid, gentle movement that nourishes body, mind and spirit.

​

Learning ChiRunning and ChiWalking is an active way to be kind and thoughtful to your body and being. You’ll practice:

• Body Sensing: Listening to your body and responding to its needs

• Mindful Movement: Offering your mind and body sound information about healthy movement

• Resting as needed (and eating Well Being’s amazing food!)

• The enjoyment of moving freely and joyously

We’ll start every session with the Chi Body Looseners to ease away stress and tightness. Then we’ll practice the optimal way to run or walk using your whole body: arms, legs, head and torso. Even your eyes are important in ChiRunning and ChiWalking!

​

“All in all, ChiWalking has become our science and our art – a magical way to walk – leading to a more mindful and healthy way to live. We recommend it to everyone whether or not they ever want to walk a marathon – ChiWalking works!” - Jim & Sue Mehrwein, Springfield, Oregon

​

This workshop is for all levels of fitness, beginners to long-distance runners or walkers. It is not recommended if you have any long-term difficulties walking, such as needing a cane or have other walking or running disabilities. Mild injuries are fine as long you can stand and walk or run. Injury prevention is the first premise of ChiRunning and ChiWalking so minor knee, hip or back pain should not be a deterrent to joining the workshop. 

IMPORTANT: The terrain of Well Being Retreat is mostly dirt and gravel roads and trails. Good shoes are a must. We will practice hill techniques, but running and walking mostly on gentle hills and flat, gravel terrain. Every aspect of the workshop is optional.

​

Reading our ChiRunning or ChiWalking book is recommended but not required.

Your Facilitators:
 

Danny and Katherine Dreyer co-founded ChiLiving, Inc. in 1999 and co-authored ChiRunning, ChiWalking and ChiMarathon books, all published by Simon & Schuster and translated into 15 languages. Well-versed in T’ai Chi, Eastern philosophy, meditation and mindful practices, Katherine and Danny have taught at the Omega Institute, Kripalu, Esalen and around the world. Danny has run over 50 ultra marathons (distances longer than a marathon, including two 100-mile events) always placing in the top 3 of his age group. Prior to starting ChiLiving Katherine was president of New Hope Communications, a natural health publishing company. They live in Asheville, NC. 

Program Schedule:

The retreat will begin with check-in Thursday, June 19, 2025 between 4:00 pm and 5:30 pm. Dinner will be served at 6:00 pm Thursday evening. All meals, snacks, teas and coffee will be served through the event. The retreat will end with lunch on Sunday, June 22, 2025.

About the Venue:

Well Being Retreat Center

There will be time to enjoy the 160 acres of rural Tennessee land and the 2 1/2 miles of Powell River frontage.

​

Food provided will be freshly prepared non-vegetarian with a vegetarian option at each meal. (Vegetarian may include eggs and dairy.) Meals will be mostly gluten-free. Lodging is available on a first come, first serve basis; there are a limited number of single rooms. The Tiny Houses and the earth-sheltered private cabins by the river are both listed as "Private Cabins." For pictures of the lodging options, go here. Cabinettes have bathroom facilities in the nearby Conference Building, a short walk away. There is also a low cost option for AT Shelter camping by the river with bathrooms and hot showers nearby. 

​

The Well Being Retreat Center offers a conducive environment for this event: quiet natural spaces and delicious healthy food.