Everyone knows the value of walking. It helps your heart, your circulation and your tummy (a great calorie burner)

But here is something else for you to consider: why not use your walking exercise as a time for meditation?. Most people take up walking because it’s a great form of exercise, it is easy on the joints and it isn’t complicated to learn.

You don’t need any special equipment. Just start walking and you are instantly on your way to better health. When you add meditation to your walking, you will find the experience invaluable.

So what is mindful walking or walking meditation? Walking meditation is when you consciously pay attention to your every step. With mindful walking, there is no need to increase your pace, in fact, you might begin by walking at a slower pace so you can get the hang of walking meditation.

When you focus on your walking, pay attention to how it feels as you raise your foot then place it back down on the ground, one step at a time. Walking meditation has its roots in Buddhism, in particular the art of Ayatana. In Christianity, the practice of labyrinth walking is considered to be a form of walking meditation.

Walking meditation helps you stay focused on the now moment. You will find your stress gradually disappearing as you become more skilled at the practice.

Many forms of meditation have the individual sitting with eyes shut, focusing their attention away from the outside. With mindful walking, the eyes are open wide, taking in the outside environment. This gives the walker an opportunity to detatch from the head noisy; a very valuable experience, especially for westerners.

Basic guidelines for walking meditation:

* Conduct your walking meditation in an area that you are familiar with.

* Shoot for a 20 minute time period. If that is too long for you, start with a 5 minute period and gradually increase your time to 20 minutes.

* Start your walking in a relaxed but not a slouched posture.

* Concentrate on how your feet feel.

* Relax your arms.

* Gently focus about three to six feet in front of you as you walk.

In conclusion, walking meditation is a practice that is easy to add into your daily exercise. Along with taking care of your body’s well-being, you will also be enhancing the well-being of your mind and spirit.

Enjoy your walk!!

Share on Facebook