Balance Challenge Day 2: Moving Meditation

Part of balance is finding your root or that physical point where you connect to the earth: the feet.

Today's meditation has us connect to the earth by practicing a walking meditation. The process is as follows:

Take your phone. Put it in a drawer.

Go outside.

Start moving.

I think you can all handle that. So I'm adding to this meditation. As you start your walk, notice your natural rhythm. Some things to note are:

• How fast do you naturally walk?
• Is your center of gravity high, in the middle, or low?
• What does it feel like in your feet?
• Do you feel grounded?

Something you should know about this challenge is that I am doing it with you. There is NOTHING I'm asking you to do that I haven't already done. How could I guide you if I am not clear with my own "ish?" And EVERYONE has "ish." What I noticed in the first five minutes of my walk were:

• I walk like I'm being chased by a mob (I might as well be running).
• My feet barely touch the ground.
• I'm not sure my feet actually felt anything due to how quickly I move to the next step.
• Grounded? I felt like a bird!

So I started to shift my walk.

• I slowed way down. A walk that I know typically takes 15 minutes ended up taking 35.
• I focused on placing my heel down and rolling to towards the toes. I allowed myself to press into the earth. This naturally took my center of gravity and brought it way low. It felt delicious.
• I understood what it felt to be grounded.

Now that you understand the physical practice of the walking meditation, we can move on. There is an emotional and energetic root known as Muladhara chakra. The element of this specific chakra is THE EARTH. See the connection. I'm not making this stuff up folks!

Some beauty from my walk!
(I went back later to take pictures, NO PHONES during meditation)

Meditation is all about bringing your focus to one point. If you are new to meditation, you will notice this is actually really hard. I meditate daily and I still have days that I have an epic drama running through my head. As I set off on my walk, besides noticing that I must look like a gazelle when I walk, I tuned into my thoughts in an effort to clear my baggage and come to that one point focus.

I realized that I was feeling off balance, fearful, and anxious due to my upcoming move cross-country (hence the BALANCE CHALLENGE).  I was dealing with some issues with people not respecting boundaries. I missed my family up in New Jersey. The pain I had been experienced in my left knee was there but less worrisome. As my mind ran like a hamster on a wheel... I made a connection. Issues with rooting, feeling grounded, home, family, boundaries as well as issues in your lower extremities are all related to the root chakra. Don't believe me? Check out Anodea Judith's Eastern Body, Western Mind. If you don't feel like buying the book but want to know if your mental focus is root chakra focused, leave a comment! I'll get back to you!

Once I noticed what emotional baggage I was walking with, I was able to channel my energy into a mantra. A mantra made for grounding the energetic root is "The earth supports me and meets my needs." Inhale, Exhale, Repeat.

New Mom Tip: Allow that stroller in the back of your car to see the light of day. Put baby in the stroller and walk on girlfriend!





Baby Girl gets a great nap from her walking meditation!