A Stress Relief Body Scan On Your Dog Walk

This visualization meditation is designed to release tension throughout the body while on a dog walk, or sitting with a dog next to you. This guided body scan will slowly, from head to toe, recognize where you may be holding stress and imagine releasing tightness with each exhale. By allowing the body to decompress mindfully, you will be left feeling grounded and centered. When we are calm and stress-free, our dogs tend to reflect back a similar demeanor.

This meditation may be practiced while walking your dog, sitting in the dog park, visualizing at home, or any place or activity that provides you the space to be aware and think mindfully.

Season 2 of the Dog Walk Meditation podcast is guided by award-winning journalist, book author, and meditator Annette McGivney. She has written several books and is best known for her book Pure Land, which won the National Outdoor Book Award in 2018. She has also been the Southwest Editor for Backpacker Magazine. Her daily walks off-leash with her dog are what she considers her primary contemplative practice, and truly healing for her everyday life.