How To Find Your Natural Walking Pace

Ah, the slow walker. A rare find these days, but as the world drives further towards insanity, more and more people are realizing that, just because everyone else is rushing along, it does not mean they have to.

Our fast-paced society, which values speed and efficiency, tends to look down upon a slow walker. Viewed as lazy, slothful, strange and perhaps even outright dim, the slow walker ambles on at a pace that, to the rest of the over-clocked world, seems to be maddeningly unconcerned.

The primary motivation behind finding one's natural pace is in the idea that life is a journey, not a destination. Certainly if one is in a hurry, getting there faster is important. Odds are, however, that wherever it is you are headed, it can wait for a moment while you enjoy the sights and sounds of an eased pace. 

1. Stop moving. Standing still means more than just your body. Your mind may be flying wildly out of control, propelling you this way or that as it whims. Stop moving your body, either by standing or sitting down, and then calm yourself, close your eyes, breathing easily...until you've fully stopped moving around. Be there.

2. Don't move. Open your eyes, stand up and look to where you want to go. Maybe you don't have a place to go at all, and just want to head in a certain direction. Know what direction your legs are going to take you, but don't move yet!

3. Take one step forward. Only one step! Transfer the weight to your forward foot, but do not take another step. Now, take another step. Enjoy the action of stepping forward, and feel the movement of weight.

4. Walk as slowly as possible. One step, another step, a gentle easing pace. Instead of trying to outpace yourself, try underpacing yourself: It took you two minutes to get across the living room; next time aim for five. You may have to check yourself -- "I can walk slower than this."

5. Keep practicing with your slowest possible pace. It will take some time for your mind to wrap itself around the idea of walking so slowly, and every part of you will freak out about how little distance you cover in the same amount of time. Don't worry! There is nothing wrong about this pace...in fact, with repeated practice, you may find it infinitely more rewarding than your fast pace.

6. Establish your most comfortable slow walking pace. Now that you've begun to understand the feeling of walking slowly, you will be able to readjust your walking speed to what truly feels comfortable to you. You'll be surprised how much distance you can cover, and how little time is lost...and just how speed-bent your friends are!

7. Keep it up. Usually, during a busy workday, there is not much time to walk normally. During your recreation time, however; you'll always be able to put in a little bit of “slow time.” You may find that in the time it took you to walk around the lake is now the time it takes you to get to the lake! But just remember: You're getting far more out of the shorter slower distance than the hellbent speed-walking one.

And of course, all these suggestions are not limited to the act of walking alone... Enjoy your new outlook on life!