How a Walking Meditation Can Change Your Life for the Better

For as long as she can remember Ashley had always wanted to be a stock trader.

Hunting down deals, the thrill of the chase, outsmarting the market, earning a fortune and most of all, holding her own in a male-dominated environment.

She loved the chaos, she thrived upon it.

But despite being fuelled off of the pandemonium that comes from a Wall Street trading office, every lunchtime, around about 12.30 pm, Ashley would take time out from kicking-ass to de-stress her mind, body and soul.

A Walking Meditation

Whether you're a chaos fuelled stock trader, a nine-to-five warrior or a stay at home superhero - aka parent - life is not without its challenges.

"Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional." - Roger Crawford

For the most part, you just get on with it; do what you have to do to make it through the day drama free and with minimal stress.

But every now and again you need something more than just willpower to get you over the finish line, and that's where a walking meditation can help.

A walking meditation is an ideal way to focus your thoughts, declutter your mind and figure out solutions to all of life's little 'problems'.

To perform a walking meditation couldn't be easier and it can be done pretty much anywhere.

So, what do you do?

Step 1: Decide Where You're Gonna Walk

While most people find the great outdoors to be a perfect setting for their walking meditation - a local park, a forest trail or a walk around the neighbourhood - that doesn't mean you can't reap the rewards elsewhere.

A walk around your living room or the office can be just as beneficial.

Step 2: Get Moving

Now it's time to get the blood pumping.

The beauty of a walking meditation is that it can all be done at your own pace, there's no need to overdo it.

All you have to do is put one foot in front of the other and walk as you would normally. No pressures. No worries.

Step 3: Clear Your Mind

As you walk along your chosen path it's important to clear your mind of all needless chatter and focus solely on being in the moment.

You can do this by taking in the sights and sounds of your surroundings, by becoming a part of that which is around you.

Feel the summer breeze run over your fingertips as you walk, the tingling sensation as it flows through your hair.

Take deep breathes, feel your lungs expand within your chest as they fill with fresh, revitalizing oxygen.

Embrace the heat of the sun as you listen to the birds sing, marvel at natures beauty of which you are a part of.

Should you happen to be walking indoors, allow the rhythm of your footsteps to hypnotise you like the beat of a drum.

Take your shoes off, feel the texture of the floor beneath your feet, curl your toes as if walking on a golden sandy beach.

Allow yourself to run on autopilot as you retrace your steps methodically around the room and again, take deep, lung filling breaths.

Step 4: Let the Magic Happen

As your mind quietens and the blood continues to pump throughout your veins, a magical process will begin to take place.

You'll find yourself in a state of zen, present, yet a million miles away.

Thoughts will come and go as you're immersed within your environment.

Solutions to problems will appear, deep inner questions will be answered.

And in this calm, reflective state progress can be made.

You can walk for as long and as far as you please, safe in the knowledge that when you do decide to return to 'real-life' you'll feel replenished and ready to take on the day.

No Problems, Only Solutions

Life will always throw you curveballs whether you like it or not, but how you choose to deal with these challenges is entirely up to you.

A walking meditation gives you the power to bring calm to the chaos and come up with solutions to whatever hurdles stand in your way.

Happy walking.