Tai Chi Walking for Balance
A Gentle 6-Week Program for Steadier Steps, Safer Turns, and Everyday Confidence at Home — Large Print, Illustrated, for Seniors Over 60
Steadier steps start at your kitchen counter. This gentle, large-print program helps you practice balance at home, with one hand on the counter and a sturdy chair close by. Six weeks, about 12 to 18 minutes a day.
What is inside
- A 6-week plan in three stages: standing strong, stepping and turning, then short one-leg moments at the counter.
- 31 illustrated moves, each with numbered steps, a breathing cue, and an easier and a harder version.
- A home balance check: four short stands you do on Day 1, Day 15 and Day 42. You keep your own record. It is a way to notice change, and it is not a test you can fail.
- Balance in everyday life: stairs, curbs, bending, carrying, and a room-by-room checklist for your home.
- A calm plan for a fall: when to stay down and call for help, and how to get up with a chair, practiced first with a helper.
The six weeks
- Weeks 1 and 2, Standing Strong. Weight shifts in four directions, clock reaches and narrower stances, always beside the counter.
- Weeks 3 and 4, Stepping and Turning. Repulse Monkey steps back, small-step turns, stepping over a line, and walking while you turn your head.
- Weeks 5 and 6, One-Leg Moments. Knee-lift pauses, a toe-tap clock and Golden Rooster at the counter, each held for a breath or two.
Who it is for
Adults over 60 who feel less sure on turns, curbs or a reach for the top shelf, and who want a quiet routine to practice at home. You do not need to be fit or flexible. If you use a cane or walker, ask your doctor or therapist which moves suit you.
Who wrote it
The book is part of the Gentle Daily Habits series by Ruth Penhallow. The first book, Tai Chi Walking for Seniors, teaches the slow tai chi step from a chair. Read more on the about page.
Try before you buy
Try the free starter routine: five moves from the series with drawings, plus a 28-day plan.
Questions people ask
Do I need the first book before this one?
No. You can start here even if you have never done tai chi. The first two weeks teach the stance and the slow step again. If you finished Tai Chi Walking for Seniors, this is the natural next step.
Is this book large print?
Yes. The paperback and hardcover use large type on big 8.25 x 11 inch pages, with drawings of every move and foot diagrams seen from above.
Do I have to stand on one leg?
Only in the last two weeks, only for a breath or two, and always with one hand on the counter. Every move has an easier version, and you can stay with it as long as you like.
Can I read it for free?
The Kindle edition is in Kindle Unlimited, so members can read it at no extra cost.
Is this medical advice?
No. The book is general education. Talk to your doctor before you start a new exercise program, especially if you have fallen in the past year.