Many people love the ease and flow of movement meditation. Incorporating movement into your meditation practice can add depth that is not available with being still. When moving, we have something to focus on that allows an awareness of the present moment.
Movement meditation also incorporates the mind and body connection in a way that creates a much greater sensitivity to how our bodies relate to the space it inhabits.
Walking meditation uses the act of walking as a meditative tool. Start with simply standing and connecting with your breath. Move your head into alignment, centered over your heart and stretch upwards through your sides and ribcage. Relax your shoulders. Root your feet firmly into the ground and center yourself into your body.
Then, walk. Keep your steps slow and deliberate. Allow your body to move how it feels the most natural. If your arms or hands feel awkward, hold them in prayer position or place them to cover your area between your heart and stomach.
Become aware of your feet as they move, one in front of the other. Ask yourself how your feet feel moving and how they feel on the ground.
As you walk, you can continue your awareness up throughout the rest of your body. Balance the outward experience and inward experience. Focus on your breath and what you see, without thinking about it, simply look.
There are many things you can notice when you are meditating and walking, at the same time, challenge yourself to consistently return to your breath and how your body feels moving on the earth.
Labyrinth walking combines walking meditation with a creative, intuitive and visionary practice of going from the outer self into the inner self, and back into the outer. There are more than 2,000 labyrinths in the United States today. You can locate one at Labyrinth Locator (Just type that into Google), or create your own.
Finger labyrinths have also become a popular substitute for creating a similar meditative practice. You can use the following sample to experience the meditative quality of this on your own. You can use your finger, or a pen, but try to do this with your non-dominant hand as it takes more focus.
