Walking Zen Meditation

Walking Zen Meditation

Walking meditation is practiced by Zen Buddhists it is called Kinhin and is a wonderful form of meditation. It is a centring, calming and mindful and moving meditation and you don’t have to be a Buddhist to enjoy it.

The Benefits of this meditation

• Helps integrate your focused mind with movement
• Gives relief during longer sitting meditations
• Extends the practice of concentration to walking

Traditionally this type of meditation would be practice to break up a longer sitting meditation as it will relive any stiffness in your joints cause by sitting for long periods of time. And it will re-energise you.

You can however practice Kinhin on its own without the prior sitting meditation.

You should do this meditation when you need to be slower and more precise in what you are doing in your work or relationships.

Just follow these simple steps.

1. Think ahead and mark out your route before you begin whether it is indoors or outdoors is up to a personal matter of taste. It’s best not to be disturbed.

2. When your route is planned, stand with a straight back while still remaining relaxed

3. Place your hands together just below your heart with your hands in a soft relaxed fist wrap your fingers lightly around your thumbs.

4. Place your right hand over your left with your thumb across the top of your left hand.

5. Keep your elbows slightly away from your sides.

6. Now begin to walk slowly along the route that you pre-planned earlier.

7. Take a half step to every inhalation of breath, for example your heel goes first that’s a half step and the ball of your foot is the other half step.

8. Obviously you will be moving very slowly as you walk focus on your breath.

9. Keep your eyes straight ahead of you just slightly lowered and do not turn your head or look from side to side keep your vision ahead only.

10. When you have completed all or most of your route, ( don’t make it too big to start with as you will be going very slowly) Stop for a few minutes and continue to walk at a normal pace for a couple of minutes still focusing on your breath breathing naturally.

11. Now end your meditation when you are ready.

We hope you enjoyed your Zen walking meditation.