Walking provides us with a mode of transportation to get from a to b. Many of us take for granted the ability to walk as this seems like something we have always done. Think of small children as they progress from crawling to walking, this takes time, strength, and determination. Our muscles and nervous system do a wonderful job of relaying these messages throughout our body, along with connecting to our mind.
Walking may also be used as a form of exercise when engaging in power walking. Power walking is with a quicker pace than your normal stride, yet you are not quite jogging or running. When one is power walking, it is important to have a strong, tall posture, with your shoulders back and your core engaged. Make sure to be aware of your surroundings and stay hydrated. Power walking may improve your mood, reduce stress, and boost brain function. It may also help you sleep better, which can lead to higher energy levels throughout the day. Power walking may improve your cardiovascular fitness, and strengthen your heart and lungs, improve blood flow, increase oxygen and nutrient delivery to your muscles, and lower your risk of diabetes. Power walking is a great activity to do with others in your community. It is a time that you may enjoy engaging conversationally with others, while also motivating one another to be active with your walk.
Another type of walking that tends to be overlooked is mindful walking. Mindful walking focuses on the sensations of walking; the sights, the sounds, and feelings of each step. Mindful walking is one way to make a daily meditation practice part of your regular routine. The key is to pay attention to the experience of walking – the sights and sounds of your surroundings, the sensation of your feet on the ground and the rhythm of your gait. Mindful walking is a great way for busy people to incorporate a meditation practice into their weekly routine – it just requires bringing a different quality of attention to something you’re already doing. Mindful walking may also help to redirect your focus from stressful situations, while releasing natural endorphins. When I go out for mindful walks I love engaging with nature; listening to the bird songs, hearing the sound of the wind blowing, smelling the scents of the native flowers and plants, hearing and watching the rushing rivers and waves crashing on a beach, these are always special times in my day when I take those extra moments to appreciate the world around me.
Grounding, also known as earthing, is the practice of making direct contact with the Earth’s surface with your skin, such as walking barefoot. Grounding is based on the idea of how electrical charges from the earth can have positive effects on our body. There are theories that suggest that grounding may improve your mood, reduce inflammation, reduce stress, and improve sleep to name a few benefits. I love when we vacation to the beach and my shoes come off and I walk most of the day barefoot in the sand! Have you ever noticed how relaxed you feel when taking a beach vacation? Yes I know, you are on vacation and not working most likely, so of course you feel relaxed, but what if it’s also the fact that you are grounding?!
Speaking of places I enjoy walking barefoot, I love a good labyrinth to walk in. Not that long ago I traveled to Civana Wellness Resort in Arizona, they had a wonderful labyrinth that I walked barefoot while repeating a mantra to myself. Since then I found a lovely labyrinth by the river in our small town of Lyons. I make time to go down there and take off my shoes for a grounding, mindful walk in their labyrinth from time to time.
There are numerous ways to engage in walking throughout your day. Walking wise is a concept I enjoy as I encourage those to be mindful, and engage with themselves when walking. Certain thoughts and ideas that may arise on my walks, do tend to add to my own personal growth and wisdom. I also enjoy getting a bit of a workout in at times with power walking, again this is a time to engage with your mind and body and walk with power and intention. Comment below about the types of walks you enjoy in your daily life, I love to hear what others are doing for their body, mind, and soul!