Walking as Meditation

It is common knowledge that walking is great for you. It's good for your heart, good for your waistline, and it is good for your circulation

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.

No expensive equipment necessary (great for your pocketbook). You just start walking and you are instantly on the road to better health. If you combine this with meditation, or mindful walking, you will find your gains to be priceless.

What is walking meditation? Walking meditation is when you consciously focus on your every step. No need to increase your speed, in fact, you will more than likely begin by walking at a slower pace so you can get the hang of the practice of meditating while walking.

As you concentrate on your walking, make mental notes of the flow of your footsteps. Mindful walking is a practice that originated in Buddhism, in particular the art of Ayatana. In Christianity, walking the labyrinth is considered a form of walking meditation.

Utilizing mindful walking helps you focus on the present. As you become more skilled at concentrating your focus on your footsteps and not on the troubles of your day, you will find your stress melting away.

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.

Here are some basic tips for walking meditation:

* It is best to conduct your walking meditation in an area that you are comfortable with.

* Your goal is to walk for a 20 minute time period (or more if you wish). In the beginning, if that is too long for you, then you may want to begin with a 5 minute period and gradually work your way up to a 20 minute time period.

* Begin walking with good and relaxed posture.

* Focus on the sensations in your feet as they lift off the ground and touch the ground.

* Let your arms hang down in a relaxed manner.

* As you walk, keep your focus about 3 to 6 feet in front of you.

In conclusion, it is very easy to incorporate walking meditation into your regular daily routine. Not only will it improve your physical well-being, but you will also be taking your exercise program to a higher level by improving your mind and spirit.

Just start walking.