This morning, I came across a quote I noted from a novel I recently read called Lillian Boxfish Takes A Walk. In the book, an older woman takes a walk through New York reliving highlights of her 85 years. Her motto, Solvitur Ambulando, Latin for “It is solved by walking”, resonated with me. One of my greatest passions is walking and one that I have discussed in prior blogs. While I usually wax poetically (or at least attempt to) about solitary, purposeless, silent walking as a form of meditation, I am approaching the idea of walking a little differently today. Solitary walking is powerful, when one takes time to walk and meditate in silence; walking with a friend can be social and motivating and, if you walk far enough, many problems can be solved. Walking can involve headphones tuned to your favorite play list, podcast or book. We walk in the country, around the city, through the neighborhood, at the beach or in the mountains. We can walk to celebrate nature, to boost endorphins or work out solutions to conundrums (I love that word). So, while I truly embrace the idea of purposeless walking or walking meditation, there are times when other kinds of walking are joyful and necessary! Just as our yoga practice on the mat takes many forms, some days we are slow and stretchy and other days strong flow may be in order, so can our walks.
Over the past week I took many walks with my friend Dorothy who was vacationing in Matunuck from Utah. We did zero silent walking; however, we found joy in nature, solved conundrums 🤣😂and laughed a lot. On some walks we were joined by Charlotte, Dorothy’s daughter, our friend Deb and others. Each journey found us finding beauty in the world around us: the salt marshes, ocean, birds and other wildlife. Not a day went by when our walks did not find natural beauty for us to marvel at.
So, this week let's enjoy the pursuit of walking. Just put on some shoes and go – let's not overthink it, and enjoy it in whatever form it takes for you!
“The walking of which I speak has nothing in it akin to taking exercise, as it is called, as the sick take medicine at stated hours …but it is itself the enterprise and adventure of the day.”― Henry David Thoreau, Walking
I came across a wonderful article in the BBC magazine from 2014 called the slow death of purposeless walking. Link below.
Our Practice – Walking Is Yoga
Remembering that the definition of yoga is “to yoke” and that our yoga practice is connecting the mind with the body and breath, reminds us that walking, too, is yoga. So instead of a specific pose this week, let's focus on enhancing our walking practice with some asanas (poses)!
If you plan to do some hiking or vigorous walking, some stretching, especially after your walk, is helpful. Begin your walk by starting out a bit slowly, let your muscles warm up before increasing your pace to the one you will sustain.
After walking, a short practice including the following poses would be great:
Legs up the wall or Shoulder stand to plow
Down Dog
Pigeon
Forward fold
Sphinx or Cobra
Seated or supine twist
Runners Lunge
Meditating – On Walking
Walking Meditation – Thich Nhat Hanh
Take my hand.
We will walk.
We will only walk.We will enjoy our walk
without thinking of arriving anywhere.
Walk peacefully.
Walk happily.
Our walk is a peace walk.
Our walk is a happiness walk.
Then we learn
that there is no peace walk;
that peace is the walk;
that there is no happiness walk;
that happiness is the walk.
We walk for ourselves.
We walk for everyone
always hand in hand.
Walk and touch peace every moment.
Walk and touch happiness every moment.
Each step brings a fresh breeze.
Each step makes a flower bloom under our feet.
Kiss the Earth with your feet.
Print on Earth your love and happiness.
Earth will be safe
when we feel in us enough safety.
I learned about Thich Nhat Hanh several years ago and have spoken about him and walking meditation in prior blogs.
He was a teacher and social activist in his home country before finding himself exiled for calling for peace. In 2019 he was the first recipient of the Gandhi Mandela Peace Medal.
In this video link below, Thich Nhat Hanh speaks about walking meditation. He was ordained as a monk in Vietnam at age 16. He envisioned a kind of Buddhism that would respond directly to the needs of society. For more on him, his work for peace and his teachings on mindfulness visit his website at:
The link to his video on walking meditation is:
Nurturing With Food – Sauteed Zucchini and Summer Squash
So over the past week people migrated to the beach house the Dorothy and her family rented for the week. Since there was a surplus of garden produce at my house, it came over daily. While I do not have a formal recipe for this squash recipe, it is my favorite way to cook the abundance of it that we find ourselves with and it is delicious.
Here is what I do:
If you are using various sizes of squash, cut them into circles, half circles or wedges approximately the same size and thickness. Slice up sweet onion in half circle slices. In a large skillet sauté the onion until soft in olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and ground pepper. Once the onion is soft, add in the squash and continue to cook on medium heat until the squash is cooked. If there is a lot of squash, you may want to add a little vegetable broth or water and cover after the initial sauté. Do not overcook. Season again with more salt and pepper. Enjoy!
See you on the mat!
Namaste,
Julia Anne
I too love walking and it sure does help sort things out!
Had a wonderful time walking with you ❤️