I know this might seem like a strange question. You are probably thinking that meditating while walking is impossible. Most would think of meditation means you have to be in solitude, tranquility, and physical inactivity. When one talks of meditation, you may usually come up with a scenario in which a person finds a secluded area, closes his eyes in silence, and rests his body mind. Does meditation always have to be like this? Believe it or not, the answer is no.
Meditation
[pullquote]Meditation is an art. A method. A skill. A process.[/pullquote]Meditation is the art of keeping in touch with yourself, of discovering your entirety and the many facets of your being. Meditation is a way of becoming aware by calming the mind chatter that goes on in your head every day. It is also a skill that must be developed. It requires discipline and the right mindset. You cannot simply think that you will meditate and expect to achieve a result right after. This requires the tuning of one’s consciousness. This takes practice.
One interesting form of meditation that deviates from the old and traditional concept is walking meditation. Walking meditation is a lot different from other forms of meditation known to many. For one, you will not have to be physically inactive just to do it. In fact, you need to move and be active – you need to walk! You have to actively engage your mind and your body in this activity in order to experience a holistic positive result. This brings another benefit. Since walking is a daily activity, you can actually grow by meditation everyday! No more stress of finding to time to walk and then meditate. You combine these healthy activities thereby saving you time in your already full life.
[pullquote]Believe it or not you can actually meditate and exercise at the same time.[/pullquote]No more telling your family to be quite. No more trying to find a secluded place just so you can meditate. Anywhere will do. Getting out in nature is a great way to meditate and helps to ground you as well.
So how do you go about doing a walking meditation?
Here is where the challenge lies. Concentration is important and awareness must be focused. You must not allow the outer world to bind your mind into it – by the things that you see, hear, or whatever you perceive. You may be aware of them, but you must guard not to do anything about them. Do not cling to anything.
Just be present in nature
The guiding principle behind walking meditation is achieving a balanced awareness, equilibrium, between your inner self and the outer world surrounding you. This meditation will invite you to feel your entire body, all the workings of the parts that make you up, being aware how each of your body parts operates. While doing this, you also have to notice your emotion and your mood. These are all done while you walk.The outside world need not be lost in your focus. There will always be stuff that will catches your attention as you meditate, and you are not to resist. You are not to hang on to these, though. You have to let them pass by, observing them without doing anything at all.
The real sense of awareness
The ideal result of walking meditation is your consciousness of the outside world while being completely aware of your inner self. When this is achieved, many of the puzzles and complexities of life will become clearer and simpler. By bridging the gap between what is within and what is out of yourself, you can take full control of your life and enjoy a healthier and a more satisfied lifestyle.
Stress is at the root of most healthcare visits. Meditation can not only help lower your stress but also improve your physical, mental and emotional well-being as well.
