There are some people who cannot stand the thought of not moving even for a minute. This immediately zeroes out meditation as a form of relaxation for them. How can you meditate when you can’t keep your body or mind still?
A common misconception of meditation is that you must be seated with your legs crossed and eyes closed, chanting some kind of mantra to go off to a peaceful state of mind while keeping still all at one time.
What most people are unaware of is that the scenario above is just one way of meditating. There is another side of meditating called Active Meditation. An example of which is Walking Meditation.
Walking meditation is done by focusing on the walking itself instead of a mantra or your breathing. In walking meditation, you should be able to notice the pressure on each foot as it touches the ground and feel the relief of that pressure as your foot rises again. Then you should be able to feel the muscle in your legs work like when they tense and when they relax. You may also be able to identify a change in your toes as they meet the ground or how your ankles react as you walk along.
Aside from the stress relief that meditation usually brings, walking meditation can also bring about a feeling of energy and rejuvenation. Aside from that, it also promotes your body’s physical health since walking is a good cardiovascular exercise.
If the thought of sitting still to meditate put you off, then taking up walking meditation instead may be more suitable for you. It does not only relax you and calm you down but it keeps you fit as well. Give it a try and experience the calmness and healthy feeling afterwards.
