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Strolling is a elementary theme in my life. Every step beats like a metronome, each setting my tempo and responding to the tempo of my life.
Step. Step.
Breath. Breath.
My love of strolling began after I was 22. I traveled to Nepal and walked the Annipurna Circuit, a trek which took about 3 weeks. This 125+ mile stroll looped by way of terraced rice fields, crossed mountain rivers on bamboo footbridges, meandered by way of rainforest and eventually, crossed the snow-covered Thorong La go at 17,769 ft.
After this, I used to be hooked. Strolling grew to become my favourite mode of transportation.
I’ve walked hundreds of miles, in cities and in parks, in chilly climate and in sizzling, in flat lands and in mountains. Any strolling is sweet strolling.
There are a lot of issues I really like about strolling. I really like the very un-modern tempo, gradual sufficient to expertise the world as I stroll by way of it. I really like the complete physique expertise. Smells. Sounds. Feeling the wind on my pores and skin and the earth beneath my toes.
And I really like the time to be each a part of the world and separate from it. I stroll by way of individuals’s lives and I watch them going about their day. We could work together or not– however I proceed on.
Most of my strolling is freeform contemplation–some hazy place between daydreaming and quiet openness. Typically I’ll have a particular matter or concern. Whereas I could or could not get an perception however I’ll usually come again with a deeper sense of calm and groundedness.
However strolling will also be a proper meditation follow. And for a lot of, this could be a wealthy addition to their meditation toolkit.
What’s Strolling Meditation?
Strolling meditation brings mindfulness and consciousness to strolling. As an alternative of sitting on a cushion or chair, you stroll.
There are a few methods you possibly can strategy strolling meditation.
You’ll be able to deliver mindfulness to your strolling. With this strategy, you’re conscious of the sensations of strolling– the stress in your toes as your weight shifts, the sensation of the air because it strikes previous your pores and skin. You focus your consciousness on strolling.
The opposite strategy is to deliver strolling into your meditation. Right here, strolling is simply one other place to make use of for meditation. You employ the identical meditation methods you’d when you find yourself sitting– you possibly can give attention to sounds, ideas, feelings, and even merely transfer with open consciousness. You’re simply strolling as you do it.
In both case, strolling and meditation are mixed.
Why use Strolling Meditation?
Strolling meditation is an effective way to weave your meditation follow into your on a regular basis life.
Typically, your follow will get caught, rote. You’ve got your follow and you’ve got your life, and it doesn’t matter what you do, the hole between the 2 can really feel fairly huge. As quickly as you permit your cushion and life hits, you progress straight out of mindfulness and into your recurring thought patterns.
Strolling meditation varieties a bridge between the 2. You follow transferring your physique like your on a regular basis life whereas noticing your thoughts like your meditative follow.
Your follow and your life merge into one. Strolling helps you expertise this.
How do you do Strolling Meditation?
Strolling meditation will be carried out a few alternative ways.
Typically you gradual the strolling down. You expertise each shift, each step, each change in your physique intentionally and with consciousness.
In different traditions, you stroll at a standard tempo, precisely the way you usually stroll. If somebody watched you, they wouldn’t know that you’re meditating.
In both case, you don’t area out. Your thoughts is current. You’re not misplaced.
You stroll with consciousness.
Attempt strolling the subsequent time you need to freshen your meditative follow. Put in your sneakers and step exterior. Rain or shine, metropolis or nation, alone or in a crowd, deliver your follow with you. Watch your thoughts as you progress. Expertise embodiment in a brand new means. And spot how your follow modifications as you are taking it off the cushion.
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