Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart.

"Walk, Shimla, Walk!" exhorted the wise Sushil Tanwar. On 23rd October 2010, We walked from Chaura Maidan to Cecil. I'm happy to report that the young in Shimla responded with fervour. This says a lot about their spirit and their foresight. I'm equally disappointed to report the near-absence of older people. This tells me a lot about their indifference and their cynicism. I was chagrined not just because they did not show up, but because so many people came up with excuses for what kept them away... When, dear Shimlaiites, are you going to wake up to the ills that plague our lovely town? Are you ever going to involve yourself in its affais, or must one quote the poet who said:

"Ay mauj-e-sabaa de inko bhi do-chaar thapedey halk se

kuchh log kinaarey par se hii toofan ka nazaaraa karte hai"!

Sushil Tanwar who runs Ashadeep. A source of inspiration for all around him.

Little girls with big ideas.

"Pollution! Pollution! Trees are the solution!" was a popular slogan that day.

A lovely poster depicting pollution and the damages it causes.

Placards which said: "Save the environment". "Plant trees. Make Shimla beautiful". "All is well. Without trees, all is hell"!

It isn't the size of the placard, but the intention that matters!

Curious onlookers.

Curious onlooker #2.

Still, on a day of hope and excitement, we chose to focus on the positive and could only say "Sabko sanmati de bhagwaan"! (May God grant everyone good sense).

The wisdom of age: don't stop walking.

The redoubtable, wonderful Sushil Tanwar of Ashadeep and I are taking Shimla for a walk today. The idea is to remind Shimla of its old tradition of walking. How great was this, how good for the health of its denzins, and for its pure air which never carried anything more than the fragrance of the evergreens and wild flowers growing by its roadsides. 

Wish us luck, dear reader, that we are at least able to light a flicker of awareness in the residents our beloved town which is so beautiful and so generous. 

As always, I cannot leave you without quoting some verse!

I look and look

Looking's a way of being: one becomes

sometimes, a pair of walking.

Walking wherever one's looking takes one. 

The eyes

dig and burrow into the world.

They touch

fanfare, howl, madrigal, clamour.

World and the past of it,not only 

visible present, solid and shadow

that looks at one looking.

And language? Rhythms

of echo and interruption?

That's a way of breathing

breathing

to sustain

looking

walking and looking,

through the world

in it. 

~ Denise Levertov ~  

Solvitur ambulando

“Solvitur ambulando”. It is solved by walking, goes the Latin saying, and never was a truer word spoken. 

Walking is an excellent means to de-stress yourself, to re-energise, to stretch, tone and relax, to acquire poise and focus, and indeed, activate the natural healing energies within yourself. A Zen master was asked, “What is the Tao?”. “Walk on”, he replied. The human body is the ultimate exercise machine, and walking is the easiest, cheapest and safest way to burn away the harmful effects of stress and to bring back energy into your life. People often say to me “But where do I begin?”. Well, you just have to step out of home, go for a walk to the nearest park, or walk around the block. How far you go, or how fast you walk is not relevant. The important thing is to begin.

Here are some basic steps to follow:

• ·         Poor posture is more often than not the culprit behind many a body problem. It saps our body of vitality and puts a stress on all our vital organs. So first off, think tall. Imagine that someone has run a string through you and is gently pulling you upwards. When you walk, keep your back straight, pull in your stomach and tuck in your buttocks. Your shoulders should be pulled gently back, but relaxed, your eyes looking forward.
• ·         “It don’t mean a thing, if it ain’t got the swing”, went an old Irving Mills song. This is true of walking too. Walk tall from your heel upwards. Have a smooth, rolling heel-to-toe motion. Lengthen your stride to as much as is comfortable. Swing your arms in opposite motion. Remember the mantra “heel-toe… heel-toe… heel-toe”!
• ·         If you can afford it, invest in an iPod or a mobile phone which can play music. Music adds rhythm, energy and tempo to the walk. Mix the musical pieces to change your stride. However, remember that headphones may block out sounds of traffic and other dangers on the road. Be careful not to use earphones when walking late evening, or in lonely spots as it may make you unmindful of strangers with bad intent.
• ·         Oxygen is free! Use as much as you can. Energise your walks by gradually increasing the speed. Remember, the speed should not be so high as to spoil your natural rhythm. Walk several paces at normal speed, then pick up speed and gradually reduce speed again. This helps prevent injuries such as pulled muscles. Do not push yourself too hard. A good test to see if you are going too fast: can you have a conversation without getting out of breath.
• ·         Your feet carry all your weight. Be kind to them. Buy yourself a good, comfortable pair of shoes. My personal trick for testing comfort is to buy shoes at the end of a day. You see, by evening, feet are tired and sometimes gently swollen. When you try a new pair, always check whether there is enough space around the toes. Don’t fall for sales talk which tells you about how shoes will stretch – they never do! If a shoe is not comfortable, it’s not for you.
• ·         Don’t let walking become a chore. “Roamertherapy” is a great way to live a quieter, simpler life. If you have children, or a dog, take them on any weekend for an impromptu walk to a scenic spot. Let Nature work its magic on you, stand and stare, climb up, down, just stand and stare. This does not have to always be about achievement, just about slowly savouring peace and beauty.
• ·         I also love ‘’walktalk’’ therapy. In troubled times, it is great to go for a walk with a friend. A walk in the woods, or by the sea, or just about anywhere all the while talking away your troubles can be better than expensive therapy, or drowning your sorrows in alcohol or drugs! Take your partner, your children or a friend out for a walk – and watch your depression evaporate.
• ·         Weather or not, just walk! Don’t let the extremes of weather faze you. Observe the changes of the season and prepare accordingly. In summer, set your alarm for early and enjoy the early-morning coolness before heat sets in. Wear light-coloured cotton clothes which reflect the heat. In winter, cover up your extremities and wear light layers which you can add or remove. Follow your inner light. Ignore negative self-talk which says “It’s so much better to catch those 15 minutes of extra sleep”, or “why go out into the cold when you can be comfy at home?”
• ·         I love walking meditation. The idea is to nurture mindfulness and self-awareness. Savour the sights and sounds around you. Open your mind to a beautiful sunrise, to the chirping of birds, to the laughter of children. Consciously empty your mind of all thoughts, focusing only on your stride, your rhythm and on your breathing. Count your paces if you find it hard to focus. Breathe in and out at each pace. If your mind wanders, let it do so. Allow thoughts to come in, welcome their presence, then let them go. Bring your thoughts back to the number of paces you have covered.

     

W  We lead sluggish lives most of the time. We think that working a lot, or simply rushing about from place to place equals activity. The truth is that our heart  rarely gets to pump hard. Oxygen rarely courses through us they way it ought to – making us feel alive, energetic and vital. But exercise can change all that. Walking can change all that! 

T   The  beauty lies in simply walking without bothering about destinations or goals. Thich Nhat Hanh says “Your steps are the most important thing.” Forget about removing stress, losing weight, finding energy or any of those things. The important thing is to simply focus on your steps. Take one little step at a time, whether on your walk, or in your life.

And you will see – solvitur ambulando!