I’ve been thinking a lot about how mindfulness practices can be really beneficial when getting into hiking, but what are the absolute *first* steps for someone brand new to both activities? It seems counterintuitive to immediately tell someone struggling to breathe uphill to “focus on their breath,” but there has to be a gentle on-ramp.
My current thought is starting with simple awareness of the senses *before* even hitting the trail. Maybe spending five minutes noticing the feeling of your hiking boots on your feet,the sounds of birds outside your window,or the smell of your sunscreen. Then, once on the trail, bringing that pre-hike sensory awareness with you, just checking in periodically. Instead of aiming for full meditation,the initial goal is more about noticing – “Okay,my legs are burning,I hear the wind,I feel a tickle on my nose.”
Anyone have other suggestions for introducing mindfulness to newbie hikers without overwhelming them? What worked (or didn’t work) for you when you were starting out?