Thursday, July 17, 2025

Thursday, July 17, 2025

“In every walk with Nature one receives far more than one seeks.” John Muir

Walking mindfully in wooded spaces is a pleasure and necessity for mental and physical wellbeing. However, you may not find wilderness close to where you live, because it would mean an uncultivated tract of land, deep and dense with majestic trees and undergrowth, uninhabited by humans, inhabited by forest critters and blessed with solitude.

I do not suggest trekking through unfamiliar woods alone. Ask a friend to accompany you. My husband and I used to explore new treks together. The appeal of adventure midst the grandeur of towering trees and charm of ferny undergrowth was tantalizing. The great variety of flora growing without human intervention energized us, as did the vibrant colors, nature sounds, and refreshing scents.

Walking in nature benefits body, brain, and heart. We may compare the effects of mindful walking to mindfulness meditation on our body and heart-mind. 

Whereas in meditation our focus is on the breath, in walking our mind attends to the movement of the feet and takes in the sensory data through the senses of sight, hearing and smell. The interchange is reciprocal. Nature wants us to take as much pleasure in its abundant beauty as we want to bathe in its blessings. This is what Japanese call “Forest Bathing.”

A mindful creative person, sauntering through unfamiliar woods receives a feast of sensations and insights that await to be revealed in such an atmosphere. The moving body, the delightful scenery and new thoughts revitalize us. At this stage of our lives, we do have time to take such leisurely walks. So why not?

Each one of us experiences the physical movement differently. It depends upon where we are, who we are, and what our intentions are. Whether we are forest bathing or window shopping? Whether we are trekking or hurrying to a destination? Different scenarios stimulate different emotions and thoughts.

Every time we walk we are going somewhere. But the most beneficial walk is when we are going nowhere! Such a walk inspires self-contemplation. Moving with an intention and a plan around a city is to know where you are. Nature walks are more organic and less planned. 

However, trekking on unpaved narrow paths in forested terrain or walking on a concrete road in a large city can both incite fear. Walking through the maze of streets of a metropolis can be as worrisome as a lonely walk on a narrow muddy pathway. A densely populated metropolitan city can stir as much trepidation as a lonely walk through dense woods. What seems picturesque to one can be a deep, dark maze to another.

Since we moved to Ashby, we now walk on the sidewalks around the ponds, through courtyards and manicured gardens when the weather is below 75 degrees Fahrenheit. During deep winter or hot summer days we prefer to walk through the maze of main streets, corridors and bridges of the connected buildings. Mindful walking requires being able to walk freely with no destination in mind for the sake of walking, and that’s what we will continue to do.