Mindfulness Walks at Bluff Lake

One weekend a month, from March to October, I lead mindfulness walks at Bluff Lake Nature Center.  But the walks have been temporarily suspended because of the pandemic. The nature center  is open so that people can exercise, but social distancing makes it hard to lead a mindfulness walk. Shouting instructions across 6 feet of space would put a dent in being relaxed and mindful.

A Beautiful Respite

Even though we can’t meet as a group, the Nature Center is a beautiful place to walk. It is hidden over the edge of a bluff (as the name implies) and it is easy to miss. The bluff used to be at the edge of the old Denver airport and humans had turned the lake into a bit of a toxic dump. It was reclaimed when the new airport was built. And now it is a beautiful respite in the middle of a busy part of the city.

Walking early in the morning, I’ve often seen the small herd of mule deer that live at Bluff Lake. And lots of other creatures make their home there   or pass through regularly. The prairie dogs are often the most visible as they pop their heads out of holes to check on walkers or scamper out of the way.

Since I grew up on the Great Lakes, the lake part of Bluff Lake seems a misnomer to me. It’s really a very large pond. But I find out in the west, all kinds of tiny bodies of water are called lakes. I’m willing to forgive the misnaming because there is so much beauty and wildlife. (Not that I have any say in the matter anyway.)

Mindful Walking

Because we have missed the last two mindfulness walks I’ve created a short video which highlights the beauty of the nature center and a few ways to approach mindful walking.   Click here to see the video. 

Mindful walking is about incorporating the intention to stay present and aware as we walk. In the midst of this pandemic it seems even more important to practice mindfulness as it helps manage worries and anxiety. And walking in a beautiful place like Bluff Lake Nature Center facilitates that process.