Explore your surroundings at home using mindfulness exercises to focus on close looking, observation, and awareness.
Instructions
1. PICK YOUR ROUTE.
Along with a friend or family member, pick a starting point where you will begin your walk. You can choose your route in advance or improvise your path along the way. Your thoughts and conversation should focus on what you observe along your walk. Be patient as you look at things and bring your focus back to your surroundings if your thoughts go astray.
2. BREATHE.
To begin, walk to your starting point and stand in place. Take a full, deep breath while raising the top of your head. Then exhale and release as you feel your feet firmly planted on the ground. Take a moment to look at the path in front of you, then begin your walk.
3. OBSERVE YOUR SURROUNDINGS
As you walk, allow yourself to move at your own pace to observe what is happening around you. When you focus your eyes on what is in front of you, what do you notice? Texture? Color?
As you focus on buildings or structures, can you imagine them as sculptures? If you pass trees or plants, follow their branches and leaves like lines in a drawing.
When you look up at the sky, what shapes do you see? How do the spaces or objects you observe appear different now compared to when you first noticed them?
Share your thoughts with your family member or friend. Where do your observations intersect? What did you pay attention to that was different from them?
4. CONCLUDE
At the end of your walk, stand in place again. Take three deep breaths, then close your eyes and listen to the sounds surrounding you. Close your meditation by sharing your last thoughts with each other, including your favorite part of your walk.
Share your favorite part of your walking meditations with us too using #MuseumFromHome and #ConnectWithCAMH. Be sure to follow and tag us on Instagram at @camhouston!
About Virtual Drop-In Experiences
CAMH’s Drop-In Experiences feature instructions for pop-up activities you can do in-person or at home. Each hands-on activity provides creative opportunities to experience current exhibitions from a distance in a unique and meaningful way.
Drop-In Experiences are available in-person between 1–4PM every Saturday and released on our website at 1PM every Saturday. All ages, always free.
In-person activities are low and no contact and designed with the safety of our visitors, staff, and community in mind. Visit our Museum From Home page for more hands-on activities you can enjoy anytime!