As the year gets into full swing, many people are looking at ways to start the new year off on a new slate. It’s human nature: the desire to exercise more, stress less, be more present and learn to say no. Sometimes, however, we lose our way and revert to old habits, landing up feeling frazzled too soon.
Candide, a free gardening app that connects South Africa’s green lovers, believes in the power of nature and is always looking at ways to harness green spaces for healthy living, noting the calming influences found in labyrinths – the one place you really can’t lose your way!
It’s believed labyrinths date back to the Neolithic Age. The word is derived from the Greek labyrinthos, which describes any maze-like structure with a single path through it. However, it is not the same as a maze.
A maze can have many paths, while a labyrinth is a single route to the centre, with one entrance which is also the exit.
There is no right way to walk the path and there are no decisions to be made on which way to turn. With no pressure of “finding your way” or getting lost in a maze, it’s no wonder people find it calming.
The repetition of the route is perhaps also why so many people find walking labyrinths meditative. Slow, intentional walking on a set path in a quiet, safe place allows for focus and tends to relax the body, while concentrating on one’s steps is a way to get centered and be present.
Lorelei King, former director of surgery at Michigan’s Mercy Hospital, noted how patients were visibly relaxed after walking the hospital’s labyrinth. He gives tips on how to use the path to reap the benefits:. Before entering, consider a contemplative question, phrase, prayer or image to hold in your mind.. While walking, just follow the path and concentrate on your steps.. On reaching the centre: Sit or stand with your eyes closed or looking downward. Take three deep breaths and ask yourself: What am I feeling right now?. When walking back, repeat the contemplation you began with.. After walking, reflect on your time in the labyrinth.
To help kickstart your journey of discovery, Candide has put a list of some cool and calm labyrinths in South Africa together, including two in Stellenbosch – The Labyrinth at Simonsig and The Hydro Stellenbosch.
For more labyrinths in SA, go to https://labyrinthlocator.com.
