3 tips for walking with purpose

Here are 3 things to remember to help you walk with purpose, one of the Nordic Walking Guy's 3 principles.

• Stand tall. Nordic walking encourages an erect posture.
• Gear up. The right gear can help you benefit from the experience.
• Let go. The poles take care of themselves.

Over time, we'll expand on those points.

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Nordic walking and mindfulness

What's the connection between Nordic walking and mindfulness? First, a bit about what mindfulness is. Psychology Today calls it "a state of active, open attention on the present." What does that mean in plain English? Phil Jackson, the famous basketball coach, described it in a couple of books I read (Eleven Rings [Kindle, hardcover, paperback, audio] and Sacred Hoops [Kindle, hardcover, paperback, audio]) broke it out into several steps:

1. Sit still, focusing on your breathing.
2. Distracting thoughts may come to mind. If so, let them.
3. Don't fret over distracting thoughts. Just acknowledge them, and return to your breathing.
4. Over time, such thoughts will become less distracting, and your ability to focus will improve.

Phil Jackson claimed that such practice enabled him and his players to concentrate more effectively in games.

When you're Nordic walking, you're breathing in a steady rhythm, so you can practice that technique. That's helpful because distracting thoughts or daydreaming make it tempting to walk less purposefully and slow to a stroll. Although you don't have to engage in high intensity training, you do want to stride in a way that generates effort in order to engage those extra muscles.

In a future post: some thoughts about how prayer fits in for those who want to integrate spiritual and physical.