As a health and well-being writer, I am constantly searching for ways that people incorporate meditation into their lives in a practical way. By now we've all heard of the benefits of meditation -- it can lower stress and anxiety, improve immune function, and decrease pain. Now recently, scientists are even telling us it can increase grey matter in the brain, leading to better memory function, emotional stability, and mindful behavior. In short meditation is a bit of a wonder practice -- if you can make it work for you.
The problem is, not all of us can. For some of us (me included) sitting in silence focusing on your breathing just isn't practical. Not only can it be difficult to find that inner silence you're looking for; at times, it can be hard to find literal silence if you live in a shared house, or have children, or a partner, or a dog, or a parrot.
So recently I went for a walk, and not just your usual walk. Actually it was a hike: six days of walking with nothing to do but just think. Well, that's the opposite of meditation right? The principle of meditation is to silence your thoughts. The interesting thing was that my brain ran out of things to think about pretty quickly, (particularly when the going got steep and all I could concentrate on were the three steps in front of me). After a few hours of walking, it suddenly hit me like a boulder -- I was meditating, and there was no crossed legs or chanting involved.
This is why walking works for me, and can for you too.
1. It clears your mind.
Unlike guided meditation, which asks you to clear your head of all thoughts (often producing the opposite effect), walking naturally allows your mind to go quiet. While you might start your walk thinking of everything that you need to do today, or this week, after a while, the rhythm of your footfall and movement acts as a focus, allowing you to just focus on the road ahead of you. Something that helps me with this is instrumental music, ( lyrics are distracting to your brain). The combination of walking while listening to melodic music provides a sense of calm that is difficult to find elsewhere.
2. You can do it (almost) anywhere.
photo credit: Wired for sound. via photopin(license)
While regular meditation requires you to find a quiet space where you can be alone, a walk can be done anywhere (with the exception of high rise buildings and space stations). You don't have to trek up mountains, or across barren landscape to feel the effect of walking meditation, I have had equally peaceful walks through busy cities. The important factor is to be alone with yourself, even if you're not physically alone.
Listen to music, but put your phone on airplane mode -- don't check your texts, emails, or social media. Allow your mind to focus only on your walk, not the destination or distractions along the way, but on the act of walking, the rhythm of your footfall, knowing that you are travelling in a direction, but not getting caught up on where that is or when you will arrive.
3. It gets your body moving.
One of my biggest frustrations when it comes to traditional meditation is that my body is restless. It wants to move, or I can feel an ache in my arm, or suddenly have an uncontrollable urge to scratch my elbow. With walking, that is all taken care of already; your body is distracted -- it's moving in a constant rhythm leaving nothing to focus on but your mind. What's more, because endorphins --those lovely exercise hormones-- are being released, it allows your mind to contemplate things in a much more positive way.
4. It connects you with nature.
photo credit: In the forest via photopin(license)
Studies have shown that connecting to nature on a regular basis, whether that is through walking, gardening, or animal care, can improve your mood and decrease stress, anxiety, and depression. Walking is the perfect opportunity to do this. Even if you live in a city, get to a park. Even if the weather is awful, enjoy the feeling of the wind and rain on your skin. Being in nature reminds us of who we are, of our connection to the world, and can allow us to see some of our more petty problems for what they really are.
5. It gives you the distance you've been searching for.
photo credit: The lonely woman via photopin(license)
Whether you're taking a stroll in a local park, or setting off on your own personal mountain odyssey, walking gives you both physical and mental distance from whatever issues may be bothering you. Once you've given your mind a chance to clear, and not think for a while, it allows you to approach the issue from a fresh perspective. You can be alone with yourself, and free to think over what's going on without distraction, or input from an outside source. You often find that you return home with a completely different head on to the one you left with -- calmer, clearer, and ready to start again.