This Saturday my kid and I took part in a meditative hiking experience. At the foothills of Mt. Diablo, the tallest eminence in the eastern bay area of San Francisco the hike was organized by a non profit seeking to preserve the wilderness.
This parcel we hiked on is about couple thousand acres and the sun was beginning to warm the morning as 25 souls gathered to be part of the walk. The non profit purchased this parcel with private donations from a ranching family and has used the reserve to educate citizens and save it from the pressure of over development.
You see the memorial stone of the Italian immigrant family who sold their land to the non profit at the entrance to the land.
After a brief intro to the agenda for the morning from the lady leader of our meditation and hike we set off.
The hike began in a sub division with nice homes nestled on a plateau. We mostly marched single file on a fire road and then into brush and thistles that were growing everywhere. Oak orchards mingled with Buckeye forests as the land rose and fell.
The sun continued its march upward and the meditation part was done in few pit stops along the way. It was primarily about trying to let go of all thoughts in our heads while enjoying all the natural sensations of being in a quiet place. It takes work to actually eliminate the jet noise of an aircraft flying 20,000 feet above and the occasional robin to completely lose yourself and pay attention to your breathing.
One - two -three in and one - two - three out. And so on. Just letting all the monkey brain ideas run away and just focusing on the present. It was singularly refreshing and healthy as we left feeling energetic and relaxed.
Both of us felt it was worth the early morning start and drive to the hillside and getting to meet new people who were sharing in a communal experience of absorbing nature.
This parcel we hiked on is about couple thousand acres and the sun was beginning to warm the morning as 25 souls gathered to be part of the walk. The non profit purchased this parcel with private donations from a ranching family and has used the reserve to educate citizens and save it from the pressure of over development.
You see the memorial stone of the Italian immigrant family who sold their land to the non profit at the entrance to the land.
After a brief intro to the agenda for the morning from the lady leader of our meditation and hike we set off.
The hike began in a sub division with nice homes nestled on a plateau. We mostly marched single file on a fire road and then into brush and thistles that were growing everywhere. Oak orchards mingled with Buckeye forests as the land rose and fell.
The sun continued its march upward and the meditation part was done in few pit stops along the way. It was primarily about trying to let go of all thoughts in our heads while enjoying all the natural sensations of being in a quiet place. It takes work to actually eliminate the jet noise of an aircraft flying 20,000 feet above and the occasional robin to completely lose yourself and pay attention to your breathing.
One - two -three in and one - two - three out. And so on. Just letting all the monkey brain ideas run away and just focusing on the present. It was singularly refreshing and healthy as we left feeling energetic and relaxed.
Both of us felt it was worth the early morning start and drive to the hillside and getting to meet new people who were sharing in a communal experience of absorbing nature.
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