In this article I discuss some of the benefits of mindful walking or walking meditation and how such a practice can bring the practitioner towards a path of mindfulness.
A path toward mindfulness
The oldest evidence for walking on two legs comes from one of the earliest humans known, Sahelanthropus. Walking upright may have helped this species survive in the diverse habitats near where it lived—including forests and grasslands. Today the habitat of the modern humans are urban areas, and walking no-longer is matter of life and death but a matter of quality of life.
As a low impact exercise over 10,000 steps are recommend each day so its not an exercise that will help you loose pounds like running will. However, the benefits of walking can not simply be measured in weight loss or even fitness gains. Walking is much more than that. Walking is about the maintenance of overall physical and mental health. A evolutionary leap that is one of the most natural parts of our lives.
As a child our first steps are greeted with joy and as an adult our last with sadness. Walking is central to our being whether as a means of movement, a health exercise, a de-stresser, a way to clear your mind, think or connect to your own body or nature. As a result it’s a natural choice for an active meditative exercise that everyone can do.
The steps to take
Here’s a simple set of instructions for one form of walking meditation that focuses on connecting you to your own body and your surroundings.
1. Be aware of your posture, reduce your speed, relax and regulate your breathing with long slow deep breaths .
2. Using your five senses, listen to your surroundings and take a moment to become aware of them. Turn your attention to smells and touch, smile and explore your surroundings with wonder.
3. Become aware of your body, its movements its sway and connect to the sensation of walking. Observe how your body feels during the process of walking and enjoy these sensations for short periods of relaxed mindfulness.
So if you’re in Beijing here are my top three parks in Beijing for mindful walking:
2. Beihai Park
Check out this app that is designed to help you integrate mindfulness into your daily routines on iTunes or alternatively, leave your phone behind and get rid of all technological attachments for a mindful walk.
Check out www.StudyMartialArts.Org for martial arts adventure travel and training options in Beijing and World Wide.
