Mindful Walking

Urban Retreat's mindful walking treatment takes advantage of our location next to Caulfield Park to get outdoors and work on self-awareness of your walking technique.

Why is it so important to develop as good a gait as you can and to work at breaking any bad gait habits you have?

The answer is, simply, that having a good gait helps us to minimize additional stresses to the body caused by our walking technique. Those with a poor walking technique automatically use more energy to walk because their muscles have to work harder to bring their body back into balance and alignment, which, of course, also puts additional strain on those muscles and can cause tension, strain and even long-term injury.

The key to alleviating problems caused by poor walking techniques is to undertake a 'gait analysis' to determine the biomechanics of your walking technique and what assess what changes might be made. Our program goes beyond normal gait analysis, however, and uses techniques related to relaxation and meditation to enhance self-awareness. It is an experiential therapy for inefficient walking patterns that will get you 'in touch with your position' and allow you to formulate a more efficient walking technique.

The process involves:

• Lying down in the park and and using basic meditation and self-awareness techniques to create an awareness of the body and, in particular, of the limbs
• While maintaining this self-awareness, rising up and walking -- sometimes with your normal gait, sometimes in unusual ways and sometimes with an ideal gait
• Lying back down again and assessing what has been gained from the exercise in terms of awareness of body and gait
• Discussion with our specialist on possibilities for improving the efficiency of your walking technique by creating an awareness of what comprises an 'efficient gait'
• Advice on using self-awareness techniques in everyday situations to consciously and permanently effect positive change in your walking technique

The mindful walking program is usually carried out in groups, and is undertaken outdoors in Caulfield Park whenever weather permits. Please see our price list to get an idea of the cost, or contact us to make a booking or find out when the next group session is scheduled. Private appointments are also available on request.

Please also see our related treatments of postural therapy and motion analysis.