Need Stress Relief?
Posted on February 28, 2012
Try going for a walk in a labyrinth. Labyrinths are found in many cultures and religions throughout history. Their purpose is to create an atmosphere that fosters spiritual, emotional, psychological, and physical well-being. A labyrinth has a single, winding, unobstructed path from its outside to its center, unlike a maze, which has many dead ends and wrong choices designed to trick the mind.
The labyrinth is often seen as a metaphor for our spiritual life journey; many twists and turns but no dead ends. We have the opportunity to make other choices in life or turns in the labyrinth. Labyrinth users call the experience a meditation in motion, fusing movement and inner calm. If you concentrate on the course your pace slows, your breathing deepens, and your mind becomes clearer as you let go of stress.
Labyrinths exist all over the world— in churches, hospitals, wellness and rehab centers, hospice programs, nursing homes, schools, community centers, even in private backyards. There are labyrinths made out of stones, flowers, shrubs, canvas, and a variety of materials. More and more people are being drawn to the sense of renewal that labyrinths can impart. They have become a sought-after healing tool for today’s hectic times. We live in a fast-paced society and tend not to take time for ourselves. The labyrinth offers us that opportunity and each time we experience a labyrinth walk, it’s different. It depends on what is going on in our life’s journey at the time of our walk, and how open our hearts and minds are to the experience.
The walk also differs from individual to individual as we all have differing life journeys and experiences. Take advantage of this alternative stress relief tool. You will be glad you did. HNE can bring this unique meditative tool to your place of work. All you need is a 16-foot by 16-foot indoor space to accommodate our portable canvas labyrinth. Or, to find local walking labyrinths go, to www.labyrinthguild.org.
For more information or to schedule an on-site labyrinth walk, please ask your employer’s Wellness Coordinator or Benefits Manager to contact Maria Garrity, HNE’s Health Programs Event Coordinator at 413.233.3391. Please note, a minimum number is required. We look forward to sharing the labyrinth walk with you.
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