Atlanta Enthusiast Skips 100 Miles

In April of 2001, a skipper in Atlanta, Georgia named Susan Reineck skipped 100-miles across Atlanta to raise awareness and money for a wild life sanctuary where she volunteered.

Here are some excerpts from the article a reporter named Randy Southerland the Atlanta Journal-Constitution did at the time about her efforts…

“It’s late afternoon and the sweating joggers and the walkers with kids in tow are out in full force along a greeways path in Alpharetta. Although normally intent on their routines, even the most serious fitness buffs slow and smile when they see Susan Reineck skipping by.

While running, power walking, and spinning may be more in vogue, this energetic speech pathologist has joined a small but growing band of enthusiasts who prefer this classic means of childhood locomotion.

Reineck is, in fact, Atlanta’s head skipper. That means she’s in charge of spreading the wrod about skipping to a public that may find this jaunty movement maybe just a little silly.

“It’s incredible,” Reineck enthuses after a three-mile skip. “I  used to run in high school and college, but running just stopped doing it for me. so I said I’ll just walk, but that wasn’t enough. So with skipping I get the aerobic benefit that I would from running, but at the same time it’s a lot easier on my knees.”

While skipping might look deceptively easy and childlike, Reineck is in the midst of a serious training program for the biggest skip of her life. Beginning Sunday, Earth Day, at 1 pm, she plans to set off on a one-woman skip from Alpharetta’s North Point Community Church down to Buckhead and then all the way up to Ellijay - more than 100 circuitous miles. Her goals for this event she calls, “Bound for the Wild” is to raise money and public awareness for the Wildlife Rehabilitation Sanctuary.

“In Atlanta, people are so uptight,” says Reineck. “They’ve got so much on their minds. They’re always thinking about work, and I just see so many unhappy people. I think this is a good place to get more people skipping.”

While skipping may never be quite as popular as jogging, more and more people are coming to recognize its benefits. She believes that skipping actually does elevate your mood, and she feels, yes, like a kid again. It’s downright hard to be out of sorts when you’re skipping. And the reaction she gets from people on the skipping trail is positive as well.

“The cynic in me says people are going to look at me like I’m nuts or they’re going to cal me a freak,” says Reineck. “Instead people just smile and say hi.”

And secretly wish that they were skipping, too.

Skipping in Oklahoma…is OK!

“The SOONER you skip, the SOONER you’ll smile.” -Dave May

Dave May is an inspiring skipper in the Sooner State. A big part of his life work is inspiring young people to be true to themselves and get fit in the process. Dave (left) is pictured here with his daughter Emily and Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry.

In the summer of 2004, Dave traveled the state and shared his message of fitness and fun with schools and libraries. He has even enlisted the support of Oklahoma State Senator David Myers who will officially proclaimed Dave the “Skipping Ambassador of Oklahoma!”

Here are Dave May’s thoughts on skipping, “It’s almost impossible to skip and frown at the same time. Skipping raises your heart rate, burns calories, builds muscle, improves physical coordination, forces you to overcome fear of what other people might think, reconnects you with the joy of childhood, makes you and most people who see you smile, and it’s absolutely free! Skipping makes you healthier and happier at the same time, that’s why I want my fellow Oklahomans to discover the joy of skipping.”

World’s Fastest Skipper

Ashrita Furman is the fastest skipper in the world. He holds more Guinness World Records than anyone and two of them are skipping related.

In August of 2003, he set the record for skipping the fastest marathon (26.2 miles) in 5 hours 55 min 13 sec in Canada. Then in February 07, Ashrita  set the world record for skipping the fastest 5K in 35 minutes and 19 seconds…and he did it in a most unusual way. Here’s his first person account:

Well, it’s been a wild journey! I broke the 5K skipping record on Sunday by skipping the distance in 35 minutes and 19 seconds. The time was disappointing but I lost at least 4 or 5 minutes because of a tiger!

i did the record at a place called the Tiger Temple in Thailand where monks allow people to walk with a tiger. So i decided to skip with one! The monastery people were a little worried because they thought the skipping might remind the tiger of an injured animal and provoke him to attack me. But I skipped the first 100 meters with the tiger (on a leash) with no problems, then speeded up by myself and finally tried to do the last 100 meters with the tiger. Unfortunately, the big fellow thought he was going to be put back in his cage and he was moving really slowly. After 75 meters I got impatient, handed the leash to one of the handlers, and skipped to the finish line. That was a foolish thing to do! The tiger saw me rushing away and instinctively went into his attack mode. It took 4 handlers to restrain him!

Overall, it was a great adventure and sInce Reuters Press Agency was there, the story went worldwide. Later in the year, I plan to try again (with no animals) and do a better time. I just love the skipping! Thanks for all your encouragement.  All the best, Ashrita

Skip on, Ashrita!

Biblical Scholar & Author Peter Wohfelder

His interest in scripture and exercise inspired Peter J. Wohfelder to do an in-depth study of the Bible in relation to exercise. Much to his surprise, he found numerous references to skipping and became so inspired that he started skipping himself. He then went on to write and publish a book about his findings called King Solomon Skipped.

This is from the book’s back cover, “There is an exercise that kings knew of, and spent time doing in ancient times, but that has been lost in antiquity. A mystery of history is unveiled within these pages, and it will astound you! This exercise is a gift from God to enhance your physical health, and it has profound benefits to improve your intellectual capabilities and mental alertness, as well as brighten your emotions.”

Here are a few of the biblical references that inspired Peter to start skipping:

**In the Songs of Solomon, chapter 2, verse 8 says, “Behold he comes leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills”.

**In the book of Malachi (the last book of the Old Testament), in the last chapter referring to the last days it says, “But for you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with healing in his
wings; and you will gambol like calves out of the stall.” (Webster’s new international dictionary defines gambol as a skipping or leaping about in play: a frolicking movement.

**In Acts 3:1-8 is speaks of how Peter and John went up to the temple to pray. They met a man begging for alms who had been lame since birth. Peter said to him, “silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I to you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. .and leaping up he stood and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, leaping, and praising God.

** Luke 6:22,23 speaks of leaping for joy. The first definition for this word leaping in the Greek- English dictionary is to skip.

Peter first contacted iskip.com 10 years ago about his book and the miraculousness of it our shared interest leaves us in a state of awe now more than ever.  The Lord really does work in mysterious ways!

Comedian Michael McIntyre

Michael McIntyre, a wildly popular comedian in the UK, does a wonderful bit about skipping during his stand-up comedy act.

He says, “although socially unacceptable for anyone above the age of six, it’s actually a remarkable way to move. Skipping is magnficient!”

Of course, iskip.com is all about rewriting those cultural rules that say skipping isn’t acceptable. After all, who says it isn’t acceptable? And whoever they are, why on earth would we listen to them when our world is in such desperate need of positive energy and joy? Skip on!

You can watch Michael McIntyre’s skipping bit here…

Tommy Fox - Australia

There’s a skipper down under who has been taking the skipping movement by storm. His name is Tommy Fox and his website is full of fun skipping pictures and videos.

Here’s a quote from Tommy from his You Tube channel, “Skippers shall no longer be forced to inhabit the semi darkness on the edge of society. Now is the time to come out of the shadows, out of the basements and confines of your bedroom. Be ashamed no more. A mudslide of change is sweeping across globe.”

Here’s a video where he describes how we went from being a skateboarder to discovering “the way of the skip”.

Tommy attempted to skip around Australia, but didn’t ultimately complete his adventure. Here’s a video of the finish of his attempt.

Skip on, Tommy Fox…You are doing the skipping community proud!

Billy Bob Thorton

When Jeff Lester, the producer of the short film called “The Last Real Cowboys” starring Billy Bob Thorton read an article in the Wall Street Journal about iskip.com, he sent us his film and we couldn’t believe our eyes.

The Last Real Cowboys

Extreme Gene

In 2005, a New Yorker named Extreme Gene took the skipping movement to a whole new level when he created Extreme Skipping.

His skipping vision emphasizes three main aspects of exceptional skipping: rebellion, freedom, and expression of style. His extreme video inspired hundreds of extreme skippers across the globe to start getting their skip on too.

Today, a  search on You Tube yields over 250 extreme skipping videos.

Skip on, Extreme Gene. Check it!

Isha Skips

Isha is the author of Why Walk When You Can Fly: Soar Beyond Your Fears and Love Yourself and Others Unconditionally.

I’ve been working with Isha to publicize the book for the past several months. Its publication represents her North American debut. She is a widely recognized spiritual teacher from Latin America who has received unprecedented support from the international media for her extensive social outreach programs that are changing lives in high security prisons, hospitals, children’s homes, and with ex-guerilla soldiers. Inspired by her vision for a world united in the experience of love-consciousness, her revolutionary system offers a practical solution for inner change.

Because embracing life with childlike innocence and an open heart is a central part of Isha’s teachings, her work resonated with my inner skipper right from the start. Here’s a short excerpt from her book that reminds me a lot of how skipping makes me feel…

“A conscious person is just an innocent child who lives in each moment 100 percent, giving love to herself and everyone else, whom she also knows is self.”

Last November, Isha was been touring the United States and Canada promoting her book…and her travels brought her to our offices at New World Library. It was great fun to finally meet her in person and to skip together hand in hand.

For more information about Why Walk When You Can Fly and the Isha System, check out her website at isha.com.