Walking for body, mind and spirit
In a recent The New York Times column, Jancee Dunn wrote about being a daily walker and how she’s come to notice that she can group her walks by themes. For example:
The Rage Walk. When she is irked by something, she finds that after stomping around for a while, “I eventually got distracted by my neighbor’s dahlias and found my anger had subsided.”
Savor the Happy Walk. The converse of The Rage Walk, this is a peaceful, meandering stroll.
The Melancholy Walk. “Putting one foot in front of the other has been shown to reduce depression and anxiety,” Dunn writes.
The Issue Walk. “There’s something about perambulation that helps me work out my problems,” she notes.
I, too, am a daily walker, and this summer I led a program at the Renewal Center that incorporated two of my interests. The program, “Contemplative Walking,” was part of our Teach Us to Pray series looking at different pray styles.
For the last several years, I have been trying to make Christian centering prayer, a meditation technique, a daily practice. At the same time, I have been trying to eat better and exercise more. I try to walk 50 minutes a day. I knew that this was good for my physical health, but I have been amazed at how walking benefited me in so many ways. I had more positive mental energy. I had a better outlook on life. I felt better about myself. That was a revelation!
Studying Christian meditation, I found teachers writing about incorporating movement into prayer. I was discovering thorough experience and study the mind-body-soul connection. I concluded: Movement is good for your body and your soul. It’s more than good — it’s essential.
Many traditions incorporate movement into prayer — yoga or tai chi, for example. Dance is a great way to incorporate movement into prayer, but I can’t dance. The most accessible movement available to the largest group of people is walking. I had a new goal: contemplative walking.
For the program in July, I developed two exercises. One, “A Slow, Quiet Walk,” takes 10 minutes and can be done indoors. The other, “Walking in a New Way,” is meant for out of doors and needs a minimum of 15 minutes. Recordings of the exercise are on our website (tinyurl.com/y66cxvxv).
Dennis Coday
Director of Engagement
Precious Blood Renewal Center, Liberty, Missouri