Walking mindfully has many benefits. “We walk in order to walk”. Arriving at a geographical destination is the secondary purpose of the walk. The destination we are moving towards in our own very purposeful manner is the “Now”.

Walking while breathing mindfully can refresh our minds and bodies. When walking mindfully, our breathing is coordinated with our steps. In fact the only time we are really present and in control of our thinking and mind processes is when we focus on our breathing. This understanding is central to all meditations.

Hillwalking is like a metaphor for life. It involves a journey. That journey has its ups and downs. It has its hard work and its rests. Life is like our breathing on that walk. If we are out of synch, we may need to take smaller steps to bring about harmony. If we are overstressed we may need to reduce the pace or rest.

In hillwalking it is important to focus our vision about five feet in front of us. Life should be looked at similarly. We should only focus on our actions in daily life just far enough ahead to be able to deal with the current problems in our lives. In this way we are able to live in the present, in the "Now". However, it is also important to take regular stops because then we can look look back to celebrate our progress and look forward to plan our next steps.

Hugh O Donovan Associates offers the opportunity to get away from the demands and stresses of work life and in conjunction with an experienced coach to explore your current situation in a facilitated way.