(Video) The Outdoor Mindful Practice to Get Unstuck

You know that moving your body is essential to living a healthy life.
But what if there’s a healthy way to move without raising your heart rate?

In November of 2019, I got an MRI that resulted in a severe back and pelvis injury.

And all I could think was, “what about my walks?!?!”

Without a healthy spine, how could I hike out my backyard? How could I move my body? How could I do…anything?

It’s a wild thing to be physically incapable of doing something so innate. My mind and my body were battling it out, and my body was winning. By a long shot. I’d spend days where I could barely walk from the couch to the kitchen. Sometimes, I’d be lucky enough to make it to the mailbox. (Ah, the fresh air!)

Nine weeks later (so brutal), I could finally walk around the block. And let me tell you — every single step felt like the biggest freaking blessing.

It reminded me of why I love walking outside — the feeling of presence.
Separating myself from my thoughts to be with nature.
Keenly observing what was around me as a way to focus my mind.
Getting unstuck. Hitting reset. Always.

The benefits of walking are infinite — from boosting your boosting your energy to improving your mood, it’s one of the easiest and best healthy practices to incorporate into your daily routine. Especially if you’re feeling mentally stuck.

There’s a lot of ways we can experience walking. With our headphones blasting our favorite tunes in our ears. As a way to move our bodies and clear our minds. Accompanied by podcast episodes or audiobooks. As a social experience (or while talking on the phone).

And this type of walking is my particular favorite. It’s deliberate and simple and wildly effective. Consider it like an exercise at the spiritual gym.

A funny thing happens when you choose to slow down. Life suddenly becomes very interesting!

Everything around you is magnified because you’re focusing on it. The present moment has never felt juicier! (Like traveling to a foreign place for the first time — eyes wide, heart open, curious about every detail you see.)

10 minutes is all you need to feel centered, clear, and inspired to tackle the rest of your day!