Friday 3 June 2016

Walking Meditation


Beat stress, ground yourself, connect to this moment and try a different meditation technique! There are endless ways to practice meditation and especially if you have trouble with finding a comfortable seated position this is an alternative that I recommend. 

Walking meditation can be done both indoors and outdoors, preferable barefoot. So kick off your shoes and find a space where you can walk undisturbed. It does not have to be a huge space, since you will be walking in a slow pace you can walk in a circle without becoming dizzy ;) 

Before you begin, take a moment to scan through your body. Check in with your posture and see if you can let go of any tension or holding on to stress. Begin to sink your weight don into your feet, feeling the earth supporting you. 

Lower your chin to your chest, keep your eyes slightly open with your gaze at your feet. Bring your awareness to your breath and begin to lean your weight over on to one foot. On an inhale gently and slowly begin to lift the opposite foot. Notice the sensations of the foot floating through the air before lowering the heel, planting the foot with awareness. Inhale to lift the opposite foot, exhale to lower. Notice the sensations in the body, the earth beneath your feet and allow the breath to guide your walking space. 

Practice embracing the moment with each step you take, letting go of goals and destinations. Appreciate the ability of walking, the earth beneath you and the sky above you. When your timer goes off, stop wherever you are and just stand still for a couple of breaths and just experience standing, sinking your feet into the earth, feeling a solid foundation beneath you. Either gently open your eyes when you feel ready or sit down and continue with a seated meditation.




Picture of my classmates one morning in Alicante



"Let go of your sorrows, let go of your worries. That is the secret of walking meditation."
- Thich Nhat Hanh



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