Day 5
The program became more challenging because the lunchtime and evening walks took place in the company of different people, and I had to focus on not getting carried away by the conversation while keeping my palms pointed in the right direction. I don't know whether it was the general mood, the open palms, or both together that really helped create a friendly and warm atmosphere, but the walk left all the participants with a particularly pleasant aftertaste.
Now my usual solitary lunchtime walk is a thing of the past, as our ranks of those wishing to be healthy and happy have grown).
The total time spent walking with open palms during the day was 1 hour 20 minutes.
I also joined the intensive three days ago. I just haven't been posting here yet.
I observe myself and other people.
About myself. My hands are mostly turned inward, palms facing my body. I've started turning them more forward. I noticed that this position seems a little more natural for my right hand than for my left. I have to pay more attention to my left hand to keep it from turning back. Holding my hands open creates an inner feeling of greater openness to the World! And, as many intensive participants have already noticed, it is a very pleasant feeling that lifts your mood
It's not possible to hold your hands correctly if you're carrying something (a bag, a shopping bag, an umbrella). Everyone has to decide for themselves what to do about this: either leave everything at home, use a backpack, or at least alternate—carry something in one hand first (while the other hand swings freely and is turned correctly), then switch. Of course, this is only a half-measure, but it's better than nothing
About other people. Now I carefully watch the hands of passers-by on the street and in the subway Among other things, this trains mindfulness and being present in the here and now. In my observations, over all three days only two people had their hands positioned correctly. One was a middle-aged athletic man, the other was a teenager. Everyone else either had their hands turned toward their body or backward. Moreover, the older people are, regardless of gender, the more often you see those whose palms are turned completely backward. And this is already visible not only in the palms but also in the shoulders.
It turned out not to be so easy to observe: there are practically no people who aren't carrying something in their hands! They even hold just a phone in their palm while walking, and the palm position changes, making it difficult to track... But I keep observing
And it's very interesting to read about how the intensive is going for the other participants
Good afternoon! Today I walked for 40 minutes in pleasant company. I paid attention to my companion and their hands, as well as, of course, my own. It was nice to walk together; the conversations distracted me, but again and again I brought my attention back to my back and palms.
I’m continuing the intensive. Today was day 2, and I walked with a backpack. I’m holding my arms this way and have also started paying attention to other people’s arms, just like
8030. I’m exactly the kind of person who is constantly holding something in my hands, supporting a bag, or carrying a bag with something else in it. In this case, there will be an imbalance even without considering the position of the arms. Of course, I feel that I’m keeping my posture straighter, my shoulders down, and my arms turned outward. It seems like an insignificant detail, but it changes the position of the body.
During my walk, if my bag is empty, I almost always try to remember to hold my arms correctly. I called it the Pinocchio walk), and while reciting the mantra, I alternate my arms and turn the free one slightly forward. Sometimes I forget about all of this) Thank you, OM Shanti, for finding the right reminders for our minds and bodies—everything is interconnected!
What could be more wonderful than an easy walk with good posture, an open chest, free breathing, and palms “inward and forward” on a warm summer evening? You’re simply walking on an ordinary summer evening, but you feel your body as an opportunity for a silent “message to the Universe”—no less! And you can’t miss such an opportunity.
1.5 hours of walking with my palms inward and forward, and many observations.
Throughout the day, I look for and observe other opportunities to keep my palms inward and forward.
30 minutes of japa meditation during Sadhana with palms forward
30 minutes of breathing practice according to VH with palms forward
Day 6
A 40-minute walk. I tried to keep my palms turned outward, but it was difficult because I was distracted by my colleagues and don’t remember how I held my palms during those moments. On the one hand, company makes it more difficult, but on the other hand, it helps develop vigilance in any circumstances.
Good afternoon! I’m continuing. Today I walked for a whole hour with a straight back and turned-out palms. I used to keep my fists clenched all the time, but now I walk with my palms open. After swimming in the sea for an hour, I walked back (I’m already taking the bus back—it’s too hot to walk) and kept my back and arms in the correct position all the way to the bus, and after I got off, all the way home. It’s simply becoming a habit now)) And I really like it.
Namaste, dear friends! I’m reading the enthusiastic reviews, and they are very inspiring. But I’ve stalled in completing the intensive. I don’t even know whether I should continue. I did one day, very thoroughly, really making an effort, and wrote a review here. Almost 30 minutes, twice; my shoulders were turned outward in a way that felt very unusual for me—I can’t remember when they were last like that. After 20 minutes, I felt some fatigue in my back, probably because I’m not used to it. That day, when I got home, I noticed after a while that there was some swelling above my right collarbone, and my right arm was slightly swollen. For the next two days, I walked very little, about 10 minutes at a time.
Today I walked again with my arms properly turned outward and inward. After 15 minutes, discomfort appeared behind my left shoulder joint, like numbness, and at the same time there was some pulling along the outer surface of my left knee. I was carrying a very light backpack, but I started holding onto the straps so they wouldn’t press down. I reduced the outward rotation of my arms to simply turning them inward. The sensations decreased and almost disappeared. I thought that perhaps the condition of my back is rather neglected, although I had not viewed it that way before. Probably I should move and rotate my arms gradually for now. An unusual observation.
I hope that little by little I’ll be able to rotate my arms fully as required; for now, I’ve decided not to force it. Although the state I experienced with my arms fully rotated was very exalted and uplifting. Thank you for the intensive. I’ll keep trying)
Today: twice for 10 minutes with my palms forward and inward, and another 15 minutes with them simply turned inward.
I’m delighted with this practice involving the correct position of the palms. I noticed long ago that it’s better to walk without bags so that you can bring your shoulder blades together and straighten your shoulders. And this point about the palms is a very important addition, and I’m very glad that this knowledge came to me through Om Shanti. Thank you! 🩷
Day 8
One hour of walking with the palms turned inward and forward.
30 minutes of breathing practice according to VKH
30 minutes of japa meditation of Sadhana
Several times I noticed that after this kind of walking, and sometimes already at the end of the walk itself, a characteristic aching arises in the body, in the shoulder and thoracic regions of the back. A similar feeling occurs after a proper, good massage. The conclusion is that this is not just a “walk”—it is an effective method for improving posture and everything connected with it.
The method is profound; the work takes place not only on the physical level.
Therefore, of course, there is no need to “force it.” Little by little, gradually, without tension—and most importantly, completely freely, meaning with nothing in your hands, on your shoulders, or behind your back. This is a special and important part: learning to walk freely, without carrying anything. In addition, this freedom makes it possible to recognize the natural sensations and changes in the body. This is how the Practice appears to me.
Yesterday I only managed to walk to the store and back, about 30 minutes in total.
I observed my husband: his posture is good, and he naturally holds his palms turned slightly forward, so I also tried to pay attention to both my palms and my posture, because it really does look beautiful. My hands were periodically occupied with bags, but even in this position it’s possible to turn the palms slightly and hold them comfortably.
Good morning. “I continue walking with a straight back. Today there was an interesting incident. I was walking with my palms straight and my back straight, in a fantastic mood))). I was smiling. Then I met a mother with a girl about seven years old. The girl was speaking loudly, saying that she didn’t like something. Suddenly I heard her mother say to her, ‘Look, even that woman is smiling because of your behavior.’ I walk with headphones on, but the music switched to the next song, and during that pause I heard those words... It was very funny, and of course I said that I was smiling to myself)). I probably interfered with the mother’s parenting)))
I continue walking with a small handbag containing my phone and wallet (to reduce anxiety), as well as a backpack. I keep my hands in position, and I really like walking this way. The main thing is not to automatically pick anything up or get distracted by my thoughts. I continue practicing. I’m grateful to everyone who shares their impressions✨️
3301, thank you for sharing your experience, it’s very interesting!
I think the following might help you: when you lie on your back on the bed, for example, for a session, meditation, or simply to rest, try gently arching your back and bringing your shoulder blades together, then relax. Let your arms rest freely alongside your body, palms facing upward.
This way, while relaxed, your body will gradually get used to the correct position, and the strain on your back will be reduced. Of course, our intensive is about walking, but this is an additional practice to help your body adapt more quickly.
It would also be useful to make sure the bed isn’t too soft; otherwise, no matter how much you bring your shoulder blades together, your back will still round and your rib cage will become constricted. If this happens, it is helpful to do this lying practice on the floor (after laying down a mat or blanket)
I wish you a wonderful practice!
Day 9
One hour of walking outdoors, palms facing inward and forward
30 minutes of Sadhana with palms facing inward and forward
30 minutes of pranayama practice with palms facing inward and forward
Day 6
One hour of walking. Palms facing inward and forward. Back straight. For some reason, people kept glancing at me. But I felt light and free breathing, and my mood lifted.
The day before yesterday: 1 hour 20 minutes of walking.
Yesterday: 40 minutes.
Today: 40 minutes as well, but I didn’t remember the palms right away, so in fact it was only about half an hour.
In all cases, my palms were turned inward and forward. My left hand still requires more attention than my right.
8030
. I’m exactly the kind of person who is constantly holding something in my hands, supporting a bag, or carrying a bag with something else in it. In this case, there will be an imbalance even without considering the position of the arms. Of course, I feel that I’m keeping my posture straighter, my shoulders down, and my arms turned outward. It seems like an insignificant detail, but it changes the position of the body.
on a warm summer evening? You’re simply walking on an ordinary summer evening, but you feel your body as an opportunity for a silent “message to the Universe”—no less! And you can’t miss such an opportunity.
), as well as a backpack. I keep my hands in position, and I really like walking this way. The main thing is not to automatically pick anything up or get distracted by my thoughts. I continue practicing. I’m grateful to everyone who shares their impressions✨️
3301
, quoted message