Walking Meditation

Find a quiet place out in nature, a park is perfect, but a quiet street can work too. Choose a point about 100 yards away. Walk toward it slowly; one small step at a time. As you walk, allow yourself to feel each foot meeting the ground. Keep your eyes looking about five yards in front of you toward the ground. You may struggle at first with the slow pace. As you walk forward, observe your breath going in and out. Keep your attention on your breath and your feet. If any feelings arise (frustration, anxiety), simply observe them. Do not process the feeling, just notice it and let it go.

There are two parts to your experience: there is the feeling and there is the part of you that is observing the feeling. Focus on the part of you that is observing how you feel rather than the feeling itself. This part of you is at peace and may even be amused at the other part. Smile as you notice the anxiety or the frustration. If you do this, the feeling will diminish. Continue to move forward one small step at a time while remaining focused on your breath. You will arrive at your destination. Let this exercise be a metaphor for the longer and more arduous journey of achieving optimal health and peace of mind.

Excerpt from “Healing Your Life, Lessons on the Path of Ayurveda,” by Dr. Marc Halpern, Founder of the California College of Ayurveda. Available at Amazon: https://amzn.to/1GP7m28 and Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/1PsYDUA