A recent hike with my infant son through St. Edward Park in Kenmore put things in perspective. Once we were about 500 feet into our trail, surrounded by dense trees and switchback trails, we both became intensely focused on the moment.
Of course, that is pretty much the world my son lives in.
As with most people, I often strive to be in this state of mind. With the help of moving mediation I have been able to experience this state more often.
Moving meditation is a form of meditation done while in physical motion. For people who find sitting meditation a great source of yawning, this may be for you. It takes practice, but ultimately the process involves focusing on your body, movement, breath and surroundings so that your mind becomes more still and you become completely present. It is has long been practiced in many spiritual traditions and is often practiced while walking, running, swimming, hiking, or during martial arts, like Qigong.
As a Naturopath Physician, I am deeply concerned about the amount of stress we experience as a community. I’ve studied the effects of stress on the function of the immune system as well as its effect on muscle pain, blood pressure, blood sugar, digestion, memory, skin conditions and concentration. And, guess what? Stress does harm. This is serious and real, and meditation may help curb the impact of stress.
Recently I recommended moving meditation to a patient who is pre-diabetic. We discussed the detriments that chronic stress can have on blood sugar regulation. A Type A personality, he resisted the idea of sitting in mediation. We discussed walking meditation and he became open to trying it.
We began with the “water cooler walk meditation.” This involves becoming completely present when walking from the desk to the water cooler and back. This three-minute break in action helped my patient feel refreshed and clearer when returning to work. Now, he has extended this process to morning walks on some trails outside his home. In the long run, I am trusting that he’ll experience better blood sugar control with better managed stress.
How do you get into a meditative state while exercising or moving? Try focusing on your breathing patterns and quieting the mental chatter in your brain. If you lose the present moment to worry or distraction, realize that is normal and gently bring your focus back to the present. As you move, focus on the amazing orchestration of physiology that allows you to move.
Next, focus on what is in front of you and in your immediate environment. For example, the leaves rustling in the wind, the sound of water hitting the bank, or even the sound of children playing. You can do this in nature or even while walking from your desk to the water cooler.
These momentary breaks from stress will add to your overall wellness. Give it a try.
Adam Rinde, ND is a Naturopathic Physician practicing at Sound Integrative Health, PLLC in Kirkland, Wash. Dr. Rinde’s practice is a General Practice with additional focus in Physical Medicine Exercise and Chronic Disease. You can visit him on the web at www.drrinde.com or email him at drrinde@soundintegrative.com. |
