| Walking meditation is more difficult for most Yoga | | | | The breathing is different in Sanchin practice, but |
| students, than breath awareness meditation, but it | | | | the movement is repetitious enough to qualify for |
| is very beneficial to those students who have | | | | an example of meditation in motion. This exercise |
| difficulty sitting still. | | | | can teach you many things, but one valuable |
| Some Yoga practitioners are more restless than | | | | component is not to worry about your breathing, |
| most of us, so this is when walking Yoga | | | | or anything else in life, if possible. |
| meditation comes in handy, but we should all give | | | | When you decide to try walking Yoga meditation, |
| it a try. You will find walking Yoga meditation to | | | | you should choose your location carefully. Choose |
| be a very rewarding practice for your mind, | | | | a course that you are familiar with. This must be |
| body, and spirit. | | | | a safe place for walking Yoga meditation. During |
| When you first start practicing walking Yoga | | | | day light hours a local park is a safe place you |
| meditation, you should set a steady pace and | | | | could try a walking Yoga meditation session. |
| breathe naturally. Once you have established your | | | | Walking across or through traffic would not be |
| pace, you should then try to focus on your | | | | recommended. |
| breath without controlling it. | | | | Although, it is very beautiful up north, during the |
| The first exposure I had with walking meditation | | | | foliage season, you would want to keep your |
| was in Kundalini Yoga practice. We would establish | | | | awareness very keen. Bears, bucks, moose, |
| how many foot steps per inhale and how many | | | | mountain lions, wolves, coyotes, and some people, |
| foot steps per exhale. This is your own natural | | | | do not have the same appreciation for walking |
| breathing pattern and it may be difficult to get | | | | Yoga meditation and you want to be careful |
| the typical Yogic breathing - One part inhale to | | | | about what you stumble across. You should also |
| two part exhale ratio. | | | | be aware that people do hunt in season, or out, |
| An example of the one to two Yogic breathing | | | | and are not always where you expect them to |
| patterns would be: You inhale for three steps and | | | | be. Once I ran into a hunting party, with a |
| exhale for six steps. Please bear in mind that each | | | | complete entourage of dogs, in a wildlife refuge. |
| of us will breathe differently. Some of us may | | | | Therefore, carefully choose a walking course that |
| find the one to two Yoga breathing to be a strain, | | | | will keep you out of harm's way. Morning hours |
| so your natural breathing pattern is important to | | | | are always my favorite. Take the time to |
| establish. | | | | develop mindfulness of each step and each |
| It will take a while to focus on your natural | | | | breath. Try to walk without talking, when you |
| breathing pattern and determine what the correct | | | | have a companion with you. This silent walking will |
| ratio is for you. Whatever you do, it should be | | | | keep your mind in the moment and you will be |
| easy and this should not be a strain. | | | | able to take the surroundings in, without disrupting |
| Later in life, I learned Sanchin Kata. Sanchin is an | | | | your meditation. |
| Okinawan Karate form that may seem simple | | | | Yoga and Yoga meditation can be carried into |
| from the outside looking in, but is, in fact, a form | | | | many aspects of your life. Walking Yoga |
| of walking meditation. | | | | meditation is just one example of this. |