First of all, let’s tackle a basic idea
of yoga. The word ”yoga” means “to yoke”. To a western thinker, yoking an animal implies “taking control”, but, if you’ve ever met a 2000 pound cow you know that even with a leash on, if Bessie decides that it’s going in a different direction, you‘re going with it. In eastern thought, “yoking” is more about collaboration than control. With the animal metaphor the animal gets security and the person gets productive output. Our individual yoga practice is about creating a collaboration of mind, body and spirit.
We often think of a yoga practice in the context of the asanas (yoga poses) that we practice on the mat and the pattern of inhale and exhale that help the body to become fluid in movement. The traditional asanas were designed to work with the body to open joints, strengthen muscles, move blood, aid digestion and most importantly- to give the body and mind something to do so our spirit can can find space to flourish. Our practice on the mat is an active meditation.
Walking yoga simply replaces the asanas with the activity of walking. We are still using pranayama (breathing practices) to synchronize our body and breath, we are using our active mind to find or create patterns to our steps and rhythm of inhale and exhale and we are gently dismissing random thoughts to find a clear mind. Walking Yoga is an active meditation.
Walking yoga can be practiced in the hallway at the office, around the shop, around the block, or in the the living room walking in place. Five minutes, ten minutes or an hour, it doesn’t matter. What does matter is taking that first step.