Caught up in the mechanical way of life?
Looking for a way that is more natural and easy to de-stress?
Finding it difficult to sit for meditation?
Can you believe that your routine daily walks can be, may be the best solution for you? Is it surprising to you that your daily walks can become a meditation technique?
Often while we walk, our minds are racing to the future unfinished tasks like how to go about with our work the next day, what are the things that have to be sorted out during the weekend, the arrival of your relatives to your house post weekend and how to entertain them; probably to take them out for dinner to your favourite restaurant.
The thought process will then shift to the best dish in the restaurant, then to the ingredients, then jump to your cooking class that you are thinking of joining and so on.
The train of thoughts seems endless. By the time you arrive at your destination, your daily walk is completed with almost your energy puffed off by the endless train of thoughts. There is least relaxation and the process of your walking to relax and refresh you, leaves you with very little energy due to the dissipation of thoughts.
Mindful walking said to have a Buddhist origin, is all about integrating the fragmented mind. Since thoughts constitute the mind, it is necessary to be aware of the thought process to work your way for a calm mind.
How To Do Mindful Walking
Try to centre your self by paying attention to your body, the mind as well as the world around.
It is about being conscious about your body, mind and the surrounding. This will make you be in the present moment.
Be watchful of infilterating thoughts and bring the focus back to your walking, slowly. But do not get your mind agitated in the process.
Be non-judgemental to the mind’s movement. Step aside from engaging yourself in the thought process and just be alert and aware of the thought movement. This would actually mean by ‘stepping aside’
To have your focus intact, watch your breath. It is said that when the breath is regulated, the mind slows down.
Make your walk an experience. Be alert to your steps, your pace , your breath, the sounds and sights around etc. This could help you realise the present moment.
When this becomes a regular practice, the thought process decreases and the fragmented or the scattered mind with thoughts in different directions, slowly becomes integrated. An integrated mind is indeed a blessing.
With an integrated mind you become the master of it. It rants you less you with the reckless stream of thoughts.
The result obviously is, a truly refreshed you !
Author : Priya Devi R
Source : http://living.oneindia.in
