Walk Lightly & Carry A Soulful Intention

Aubrey Stetter-Hesselberg
Mar 14, 2017
2 min read

Walking mindfully requires no additional training or equipment. It is something that nearly everyone can implement and will result in immediate benefits!

As long as someone can walk, they are able to enjoy this beneficial contemplative practice. It requires no equipment (even shoes are optional!). The key considerations when walking with mindfulness as the intention is to ensure a safe environment and wear comfortable/breathable clothing. If you tend to walk quickly, be prepared to slow your pace. By doing so, it will also help to slow your mind as well. Take a deep breath... and begin.

There are numerous benefits of walking mindfully, some of which include:

Way to Practice Meditation for anxious/fidgety individuals. Meditation can be challenging in and of itself, especially for beginners. This practice can be made to seem even more difficult if individuals have difficulty sitting still. By walking mindfully, one can begin the meditative process in a more active way. In addition, if one so chooses, they can gradually transition from walking meditation to sitting/lying meditation.
Enhance Awareness. Similar to sitting and lying meditation, walking meditation enhances awareness and concentration. Walking in a changing environment encourages individuals to be attentive to the sounds, smells, and scenery. Inhale and enjoy the view!
Reconnect with Nature. Although you can practice mindful walking anywhere, doing so in the great outdoors actually increases the number benefits that you will enjoy. Numerous studies now confirm that spending time outside can reduce stress, improve sleep, improve attention span, and boost the feel good hormone (serotonin). These are just some of the many benefits of being outdoors!
Stress Relief. Moving your body and experiencing a change of scenery allows your mind to check-out and your current situation (literally and mentally) and reassess. By doing so, you are able to re-approach the situation with fresh eyes and a new perspective. Next time you are stuck on a task and cannot decide on the next step, lace-up your shoes (or don't!) and head outdoors to enjoy a much-needed walk.
Bonus: No Shoes = Grounding! If you choose to let those dogs breathe a bit, you will also enjoy some additional benefits of mindfully walking. Science now proves what so many granola folk have been preaching for years! Being barefoot on the earth feels good for reasons other than that squishy feeling of the sand between your toes. In a super simplified definition, grounding is the process by which the Earth's electrons are transferred from the ground into our bodies. When the body is allowed to 'recharge,' our energy level increases, headaches are relieved, and can improve sleep. Kick off those shoes and reboot!