Welcome.
Thanks for joining me for this walking meditation.
So just make sure you have a nice clear space for walking,
Either back and forth in a straight line,
In a circle,
Or along a path.
Bring your attention into your body and begin taking your first steps.
You may notice that it feels a little awkward at first because the awareness is already heightened just by the fact that you're walking with this different intention.
Walking without trying to get from one place to another begins to place more and more emphasis on each moment.
Each lift of the foot,
Each swing through the air of the legs and arms,
Each placement of the foot on the ground.
You could take a look at the breath like you might do in your sitting practice.
Feel how the sensations of breathing move in the body.
Recognize the shape of the breath.
Feel the natural refreshment as you enter into your body more and more fully moment by moment.
Gradually move your attention down using the breath if you wish,
Breathing down.
Bring your awareness down the body until you come to the bottom of your feet.
There is a cadence like the cadence of breath,
Like a heartbeat,
And you might notice the difference as well,
How our stride involves more will is less automatic compared with the breath and the heartbeat.
Observe this pace and just be present for the contact with the ground,
The shift of weight from one foot,
Knee,
Hip,
The spine.
Using the body in its back and forth and forward motion,
Just as it is.
Bringing the mind to this somewhat simple and repetitive activity and witnessing more and more the subtlety in the body.
And at some point also,
As we sometimes do with a breath meditation,
We can pose the question is this stride,
Are these steps,
Is this pace conducive to being mindful?
Is there some way we can allow our pace and stride to move in the direction of ease?
Can we move in a way that draws the mind into being more alert,
More ardent,
More mindful,
More in line with the intention for wellbeing?
Walk in a way that feels natural,
Calm,
Beautiful.
Maybe right now is a good time to walk in a way that feels noble,
Powerful,
Or peaceful.
Let your awareness completely fill your form from the bottom of your feet to the top of your head,
Conscious of each movement,
Each moment,
Conscious of each breath.
And let your awareness be broad,
Even beyond the boundaries of your own skin.
A natural,
Powerful,
Calm spirit,
Conscious of your own being,
But not self-conscious and in anxious way.
You can imagine you're like an exotic creature fully enmeshed in its habitat.
Peaceful fluid grace by virtue of your consistent moment-by-moment awareness of your whole body,
Your whole being.
Feeling through this space,
Feel the exquisite pressure of the foot absorbing the impact of the earth and its reverberation through your entire form.
Each step,
Each moment,
A new opportunity to be present,
To be fully in your being,
In your body,
In your mind,
Complete.
Each step,
A reminder,
A welcome sensation,
A blessing.
