A Note from Amy, Cancer Care Counsellor

I would like to share a practice with you that I do often and recommend to others. It is called Mindful Walking and is a practice which cultivates present moment awareness. Each day prepare yourself to take a mindful walk. What does this look like you might ask?

I invite you to choose one of your five senses before leaving your home and let that become the entire focus of your walk outside in nature - whether it is for 10 minutes, 20 minutes or perhaps even an hour. Gently bring yourself back to that sense whenever your thoughts or mind wanders. As an example if you choose sight as the sense you will focus on, allow your eyes to take in the beauty of the sky, the lush greenness of the trees, the beautiful array of colours of the flowers you witness: allow nature to be your landscape.

Try this practice once a day to bring you greater awareness of the present moment, bring you back into your body, and allow you to be aware and conscious of each moment you experience on your walk

As the great teacher and Vietnamese monk, Thich Nhat Hahn said, "As you walk allow your feet to kiss the earth."

I hope you will enjoy this practice in the beautiful warm spring weather this week!

-Amy