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In preparation for my new class Walking as Meditation, [starting this Sunday April 7th] I have been walking daily. And it is changing everything. The simple rhythm of my foot steps. The sound of my heartbeat. Birds. Cars. The cacophony of my over-thinking brain beginning to stretch and slow to allow space for a little bit of presence. A return to my body. I designed this course because I needed it. And I am already shocked at the benefit.
Walking combined with a habit I started at the beginning of this year - putting on my painting clothes and entering the studio at 4pm is allowing me to find my rhythm again. I started this habit in January with the idea that it would align with my bookstore schedule. Little did I know that this habit would quickly be set aside with the passing of my dad and my extended stay in Colorado in February and March. I also left the bookstore during this time. Upon my return to Washington, I suddenly had a wide open schedule. Despite the fact I could start painting first thing each day, I reinstated the 4pm studio start. It seems counter intuitive to start at the end of the day. Yet I have found this timing combined with an earlier walk in the day surprisingly effective. It has opened space for me to do the grown-up tasks of looking for another job and creating my online education empire ;). But it is the habit of walking that has actually had a more profound impact on both the quality of my day and the quality of my time in the studio.
I have found that walking has created a connection to myself in a way that all of the journaling and painting in the world cannot do. It is physical and holistic. It breaks up my time sitting and staring at the computer screen. It provides a break to over- whelming tasks, allowing me to re-engage with a clearer mind. This is not revolutionary. The simplicity of it is kind of ridiculous. But the biggest shock to me is how the rhythm physically generated by walking earlier in my day ripples into the studio. My painting is stronger. It is coming back to life.
The saying goes you teach what you need to learn. I am already learning. And if you would like to join me in this walking adventure, there are still a few spots left. I am grateful to those of you who have already signed up, along with those who will also |
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join. I think it is going to be an incredible journey together! Also know that if you cannot make all of the Sunday sessions I will be sending recordings out the next day. |
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You can find out more about the course and sign up with the link below. Walking as Meditation
[side note: when signing up, it will ask for your mailing address as the online store is designed for selling and shipping artwork. It is something I have yet to be able to disable. For now - it just is this way - thank you for taking the extra bit of time to fill out this information!]
Until next Friday!
Jen |