Walking is an excellent weight-bearing exercise for all ages. Step outside, take a deep breath of fresh air, slump your shoulders and take the first step. Relax without being distracted by screens. Walk tall, with an elegant posture, and with the right gait. This is a true lifesaver and salvation. It’s fun, uplifting, and restores your sanity.
Balance is especially important at my age. Balance by walking on the curb of a road with little traffic. Concentrate directly in front of your feet and extend your arms for balance as you take each step. There are days when I feel sure of my footing and other days when I feel unsteady. I just try to focus on staying on track. Thinking about your steps or judging your performance disrupts your flow and prevents what would otherwise be a dynamic meditation, a faster, more enjoyable version of the Zen tradition.
The third way I incorporate walking and meditation is through my invention of the thigh hike. I use this habit when my mind is full of thoughts and I sort through some kind of conflict: Should I choose “A” or “B”? What is a better way to deal with the problem, or direction to take? Applying the “conscious ego processes” I learned in my study of spoken dialogue, I use Listen to the voices that ruminate in your mind, vying for your attention and your vote. I fully listen to the thoughts that are “spoken out” in my mind and speak them out loud in a way that centers me and makes things clear.
Here’s a simple explanation of how to do it: Start somewhere in the middle of your path and choose a subject to work on. Then, try saying out loud the thoughts that come to mind. When one side of the issue begins to assert itself, move your body to the right or left side. Stay by his side until one of two things happens: (1) You become silent and feel for a moment. Return to the central path, wait for more ideas to emerge, and wait for more flank movement. (2) The other side/opposition intervenes and hijacks your selection process. Cross over to the other side of the road and continue broadcasting this different POV. When you feel the next change within yourself, either return to the center or move to the other side again. repeat!
Try not to sympathize with egoistic argumentative voices. Instead, give them the space to be heard respectfully and without judgment. Let your movements be organic, natural, honest, and zigzag as your inner prompts change. Be open to all perspectives and try to work through discomfort. This deep listening technique really moves energy. As we move our bodies and choreograph trail dances, we also transform the energies of our mental, emotional, spirit, and subtle bodies. You are now clear about what is “alive” within you and what is most important to you. Find out which “main” voices or beliefs you identify with and which you “deny” that influence whether you feel strong or weak. Recognize the archetypal characters on stage or in the wings of your spirit: the child, the parent, the teacher, the rebel, the responsible person, the artist, the know-it-all, the lover, the ruler, the higher self. Discover the interesting interactions they influence your life.
As I talk about the walk, I feel a respite from stress each time the alchemy of opposites unfolds. It takes you out of your emotional limbo, out of the chatter in your head, and onto the path to happiness and healthy living. By the time I have fully listened to all the reasoning voices, I am walking completely in the center of the path. and? I feel centered within myself, balanced, aware, and energized.
Let’s walk! Even within your home, it can be a welcome relief. want to know more? I would be happy if I could help you put into practice the choices that will make you truly healthy.Shining Delight, Marcia
