Walking Meditation
Appendix II offers brief introductions and linked resources for learning more about meditation techniques. Click on the the links below for demonstrations and information about resources for patients and physicians.
Now that you have learned about various types of meditation tecniques, you can return to the main part of the module.
A walking meditation is a traditional Buddhist practice that can work well for patients who have trouble sitting still for more "formal" meditation sessions. In a walking meditation, practitioners are typically located outdoors, or in a large indoor space. The technique involves paying special attention to the act of walking, especially the feeling of moving and the sensation of how different muscle groups act while moving. Once learned, this approach is effective in reducing the impact of stressful daily activities.
A good, brief description of a walking meditation can be found at this link, outside of the University of Michigan curriculum.
A brief video instruction can be found by clicking on the image below. Patients can even view this in the office as an introduction to the technique.
(Akuppa John Wigham, Walking Meditation, flickr. CC: BY 2.0. Obtained on June 22, 2009.)