Silent walking is not just cardio… it’s a way to enhance the mind-body connection

Perhaps you enjoy walking alone without any company or external distractions, such as loud music that affects your ears and mind. This is what is recently known as “silent walking” on social media, which aims primarily to enhance the connection between the mind, body, and spirit, and to encourage people to calm down, meditate, and observe nature and open spaces in silence. Discover with us how you can practice silent walking and what its benefits are, in addition to all the information you need to know about this walking style.

1-What is silent walking?

Silent walking is considered a form of meditation that helps people focus on physical sensations, thoughts, and emotions in the present moment while isolating the noise of daily life. It involves walking alone or with a partner without talking, listening to music, or using a phone. Silent walking also helps individuals become more aware of everything happening around them and enjoy every moment without distractions. Although it is not a new discovery, it has recently gained significant popularity on TikTok and has become a trend that many people have tried and talked about its benefits, which go beyond cardio and weight loss. It is a new walking style that has helped them maintain calmness and enhance the ability to connect mind and body by avoiding all external distractions.

2-What are the benefits of silent walking?
As we mentioned above, the benefits of silent walking are greater than you might imagine. It will not only help you enjoy the tranquility, but we will also mention its profound benefits:

• Increased awareness and perception: Since silent walking focuses on meditation, you can benefit from hearing the natural sounds around you, which helps you concentrate on the present moment. This is beneficial for your mental health, increasing your awareness, perception, and focus.
• Reduced stress and anxiety: When you step away from the noise of daily life and practice walking in a calm manner, you will automatically reduce the level of stress that negatively affects your body and mind, which will help improve your sleep quality.
• Brain growth: Practicing silence calmly helps create new brain cells over time, contributing to the growth of your brain. Therefore, it is important to choose a quiet area for walking.
• Connection with nature: It is preferable to practice silent walking outdoors, which will allow you to connect with nature and benefit from its calming effect. This connection with the natural world can enhance your feelings of peace and gratitude.
• Disconnecting from technology: It is important to take a break from technology during your day, as its negative effects are countless. Stepping away from the online world through silent walking and embracing the accompanying tranquility can help you reflect on your thoughts and become closer to yourself.
• Physical activity: Silent walking provides a form of low-impact physical exercise that can improve cardiovascular health, strengthen muscles, and increase flexibility. It offers an opportunity for gentle movement and can be beneficial for those who do not wish to engage in more intense exercises.

3-What are the conditions for silent walking?

Follow these basic conditions to gain the effective benefits of silent walking:

• Ensure you have eaten and used the restroom before walking.
• Look for a relatively quiet place to walk.
• Choose to walk at a time when there are few people in the area to reduce exposure to noise. It is also important to walk in the morning after 8 AM to benefit from the morning sunlight, or around 4 PM to get a useful dose of vitamin D.
• Start walking as much as you can; some people walk for no more than 10 minutes but make sure to benefit from the tranquility to clear their mind and body.
• Try to increase your walking time each time, even if only a little.
• Do not use your mobile phone or smart watch.
• Enjoy the natural sounds around you.
• If you want to walk with a partner, make sure not to talk to avoid distracting each other.

4-How to enhance the benefits of silent walking

If you’re someone who gets bored walking alone and fears giving up listening to your favorite music or podcasts, you may feel hesitant to regularly practice silent walking. Therefore, we’ll provide you with some tips to enhance mental alertness by observing details around you and keeping your mind focused on the moment and place, instead of thinking about work, family, or future worries. These tips will also motivate you to persevere in silent walking to effectively reap its benefits and make it a daily routine in your busy life.

• Walk balanced without putting pressure on one foot to reduce the noise caused by walking.
• Choose shoes with soft and flexible soles to help walk balanced and reduce the noise from your steps.
• Opt for smooth surfaces to walk on, such as grass or flat pavement, as they reduce noise compared to walking on rocks, for example.
• Look at where you are walking and avoid objects that could trip you.
• Try to enhance the feeling of touching the ground beneath your feet.
• Take moments to stop and look at the sky, contemplating the colors of nature.
• Touch the flowers and beautiful plants you pass by.

5-The difference between silent walking and regular walking

Physically, silent walking is equivalent to regular walking. However, the main difference lies in the extra effort exerted during regular walking to listen to music, podcasts, or talk on the phone, which can distract and potentially stress you out. On the other hand, practicing silent walking allows you to distance yourself from distractions and worries, enabling you to appreciate and enjoy the nature around you. This enhances the mental and physical health benefits of walking.