Walking Meditation

[Maddie]

Just curious if anyone does walking meditation as part of their practice? There of course is a lot said about sitting and standing meditation on here, but I've not seen as much about walking meditation. I've noticed the if my legs are hurting from sitting too long, or if there is a lot of sloth and topor or restlessness that walking meditation seems to help a lot. I've just been mentally saying "Buh" on one foot and "Doh" on the other foot, same as I would with the breath if I were sitting or standing.

 

Anyone have any input or thoughts?

[Jeff]

I think walking meditation is a great and sometimes be better than sitting meditation. If you can, try it with a tree lined sidewalk. After a while, you may start to notice that it seems like you are actually stationary and the scenery is moving like in a movie.

 

Best regards, Jeff

[Maddie]

I wonder how the energetic effect differs?

[Jeff]

I wonder how the energetic effect differs?

 

The energetic effect is dependent on your state (or quiet) of mind. If you are uncomfortable (and thinking/focusing on it) while sitting, it can be challenging to quiet the mind. Maybe try going for a walk and just "listening".

[spiraltao]

This is circle walking's aim in the bgz. For me I feel the walking meditation building energy much more in the beginning. I do now have sitting meditation method that does indeed build energy. ,i do feel both are required.

[JustBHappy]

Bagua is the best walking meditation one could do, but of course I am a bit biased.

[Maddie]

I pace in my apartment looking a few feet in front of me at the floor, doing the "Budo" mantra mentally. I've found that if I'm too antsy to do sitting meditation this helps get me to that point.

[baiqi]

Bagua is the best walking meditation one could do, but of course I am a bit biased.

 

There is also a cool walking meditation I learnt during a systema seminar: I learnt afterwards it was called " Afghan Walking".

 

Apparently, the russians took it from Afghan people who walk all day long during the war. It may have sufi origins. The soldiers had noticed it helped improve their endurance.

 

The principle is very simple: you breathe in 5 steps, then breathe out 5 steps. If it feels better, you do it 6 steps.

This helps focusing, and makes your breathing very deep.

 

In systema, we started with this exercise every time. Also, we gradually made it harder and shorter: just two steps breathing in, 6 steps breathing out. Or 3 steps breathing in, 3 steps keeping the breath, 3 steps breathing out... Lots of variations I cannot give here. This helps you control your fear (You feel lie you're going to choke at one point, but no, you're not) and manage the stress you may have in a fight for example. (Systema is a russian martial art, for those who don't know).

Of course you shouldn't do the " hard way" if you don't have a teacher around.

 

The "normal" way of doing this can be done by virtually anyone, it's great to practise when hiking.

Edited June 5, 2013 by baiqi

[baiqi]

 

The best? What about a simple walk in nature, firmly attuned in the present moment?

 

 

That one is also something I do. However, bagua's circle walking is excellent for opening meridians, helps you to stay in the moment, improves your balance, focus etc. Most people don't get this for a "normal walk". Even if I absolutely agree that walking outdoors is great.

You need to have "methods" for meditation (walking or not) and then "free practice". At least, it's my experience.

[ChiDragon]

Need to have? Interesting perspective.

 

Rather, I see it as options. Baguazhang sounds and looks great (when done properly).

 

Perhaps "method" could mean "formal practice," and "free practice" could mean "informal practice?" Just curious. Your thoughts?

 

To me, meditation method shouldn't be involved with too much body movements.

[thelerner]

Bagua is the best walking meditation one could do, but of course I am a bit biased.

 

There is also a cool walking meditation I learnt during a systema seminar: I learnt afterwards it was called " Afghan Walking".

 

Apparently, the russians took it from Afghan people who walk all day long during the war. It may have sufi origins. The soldiers had noticed it helped improve their endurance.

 

The principle is very simple: you breathe in 5 steps, then breathe out 5 steps. If it feels better, you do it 6 steps.

This helps focusing, and makes your breathing very deep.

 

In systema, we started with this exercise every time. Also, we gradually made it harder and shorter: just two steps breathing in, 6 steps breathing out. Or 3 steps breathing in, 3 steps keeping the breath, 3 steps breathing out... Lots of variations I cannot give here. This helps you control your fear (You feel lie you're going to choke at one point, but no, you're not) and manage the stress you may have in a fight for example. (Systema is a russian martial art, for those who don't know).

Of course you shouldn't do the " hard way" if you don't have a teacher around.

 

The "normal" way of doing this can be done by virtually anyone, it's great to practise when hiking.

Koichi Tohei who founded Ki Aikido wrote about doing this and making the step system 32 steps in, 32 out, but he was also able to consciously walk in his sleep in the army.

 

All walking is good. When I do it meditatively I'll slow it down, walk gently, minimize my thoughts. Focus on hearing nature. Sometimes I'll close my eyes and 15 or 20 seconds blink, repeat. Lately I'm focused on Chi walking, where I take shorter but quicker steps, keep my gait rounded with an accent on kicking behind me and a slight forward lean from the ankles.

[ChiDragon]

Have you ever heard the term "meditation in action?" Like, meditating in daily life? In everyday actions/interactions?

 

Meditation does not require a specific posture. Any activity can be imbued with meditative absorption.

 

This must be a western idea that I am not familiar with, and it is not my belief neither.

[寒月 Hanyue]

Yes. In nature as much as possible, and in BIG nature as much as possible (though it is rare these days)

[寒月 Hanyue]

 

This must be a western idea that I am not familiar with, and it is not my belief neither.

 

Really, wow...er....er.....ahh, shit

[Maddie]

 

This must be a western idea that I am not familiar with, and it is not my belief neither.

Walking meditation is one of the four postures of meditation in Theravada. Sitting, walking, standing, and laying on the right side.

[Taomeow]

The best? What about a simple walk in nature, firmly attuned in the present moment?

This is lovely, of course. Many ways to do it. I have always (before taoism et al) preferred walks in nature to other moving activities (I won't jog, e.g., have never seen the inside of a gym, etc., but I can climb a pretty challenging tree if I'm looking to expand the range of moving activities and will do it gladly anytime). But a focal point of the walk adds a special dimension and brings it closer to meditation. In the "old country" (and in the new one whenever/wherever I could) I used to "meditate" on edible mushrooms like that, or wild strawberries, or bilberries. (Of course it ain't no buddhist non-grasping meditation, there was plenty of grasping. ) But maintaining your unwavering awareness which you freely choose where to direct and what to withhold from (which is what meditation is, everything else is tools toward mastering this control of one's awareness -- posture, breath, ideology...) -- that was being trained in a most natural, most primal fashion by the activity. I think meditation may have originated right there, hunting-gathering demands exactly the awareness skills that amount to meditation skills. Which is also why they seem to awaken in natural settings better than in artificial ones even all those hundreds of thousands years later.

[ChiDragon]

Walking meditation is one of the four postures of meditation in Theravada. Sitting, walking, standing, and laying on the right side.

 

Thank you for your kindness. I believe that the "meditation in Theravada" is an idea from the Hindus....!!!

[spiraltao]

there are TCM rxs that are walking meditation methods that tonify different oqgans via breathing patterns and mudras in Jerry Johnsons TCM book.

[zerostao]

gerard, who also plays bagua has spoken highly of another type of walking meditaion , maybe a vipassana type.

if i remember, he said one had to go to asia to learn it.

and obviously i like the nature walks.

Edited June 6, 2013 by zerostao

[Rara]

One thing I use it for is to avoid injury later on in life. When I first started, I realised that we as humans these days are lazy walkers. Heavy footed, feet out of line, shock on knees etc...it's all stuff that we can control but are often too lazy to.

 

But I don't always make a point of doing walking meditation. Maybe if I am having a few leg issues. But usually, just try and remain mindful when walking...even if it's just to the local shop.

[Ya Mu]

Just curious if anyone does walking meditation as part of their practice? There of course is a lot said about sitting and standing meditation on here, but I've not seen as much about walking meditation. I've noticed the if my legs are hurting from sitting too long, or if there is a lot of sloth and topor or restlessness that walking meditation seems to help a lot. I've just been mentally saying "Buh" on one foot and "Doh" on the other foot, same as I would with the breath if I were sitting or standing.

 

Anyone have any input or thoughts?

There are many types of walking meditation as well as many types of walking qigong. We do Stillness-Movement walking qigong. The practice gathers energy instead of losing energy while walking. It also increases awareness.

 

I remember a student telling me this story once. They had just attended a Stillness-Movement qigong workshop and learned the qigong walking and immediately left on vacation hiking in the mountains. She told me she was hiking up alongside a stream when she all of sudden decided to try the qigong walking. She also said she was extremely skeptical that it would do anything. In just a few minutes she said the whole world shifted with all the colors becoming extremely vibrant, each sound isolated and amplified, swirling mists of energy surrounding her, and other wondrous things. This was many years years ago and she says she continues the practice as that one event solidified for her how much different qigong walking is than regular walking.

 

We also do Spirit Circle Walking in the Gift of the Tao II movements. And, of course, there is qigong running.

Edited June 7, 2013 by Ya Mu

[XieJia]

In the Theravada traditions, it is refers to as "Mindful Walking".

When the right foot is striding, one knows that the right foot is striding.

When the left foot is striding, one knows that the left foot is striding.

 

The simplest form is Left/Right, a more complex forms involves breaking each step into more components.

It is not that the complex is more desirable or simple form more easy, but each have their benefits.

 

Ideally, this help the practitioners to be more mindful about how they walk and will extend to higher awareness of one's body and mind in their daily lives.

[baiqi]

Perhaps "method" could mean "formal practice," and "free practice" could mean "informal practice?" Just curious. Your thoughts?

That is exactly what I had in mind.

 

And when I say "you need", I talk about people in general: since we are living in society, and we lost naturalness for most of us, we cannot jump directly to the natural state of the Being. Well, there may be a few people, but never saw them.

[spiraltao]

i use DGS' kymq as my sitting. I warm up my diaphram with around 30 minutes cave breathing. My kymq usually lasts for an hour and half. I dont do it every day. My ZZ standing is my daily static meditation method with pole star circle walking as my favorite.

[zerostao]

bump, there may be a bum around at the moment that can share sth here