We can no longer count the beauty, fashion and fitness trends that have emerged, or gone viral, on social networks. But the last one is enough to fuel conversations at the coffee machine. ‘Silent walking’, or ‘silent walk’, depending on the version, would be beneficial for mental health, if only by skipping the time of a walk everything that relates directly or indirectly to new technologies .
Have the younger generations reinvented walking? This is the whole point of the debate that is driving social networks, and in particular TikTok, with the new well-being trend ‘silent walking’. This ‘new’ practice consists of cutting oneself off from all possible and imaginable technologies in order to walk in nature alone, to enjoy the benefits of silence and the environment while reconnecting with oneself. About thirty minutes of this silent walk would be enough to improve one’s mental health, according to users of the Chinese social network who no longer swear by this ‘revolutionary’ method.
“Walking in silence was most of my healing“, explains user Val Jones, life coach, on the Asian platform. And adds: “Walking in silence is akin to a kind of meditation, a meditative state“. In a two-minute video, the socionaut also explains that silent walking has many similarities with EMDR therapy, particularly used to treat certain traumas. Unlike other users, Val Jones does not see this physical activity as a new trend, but extols its merits to feel better in your sneakers.
@valjonescoaching Let me know if you try it! #walking #silentwalking #walkingformentalhealth #walkingforhealth #midlifewomen #midlifeawakening #divorcediaries #divorcerecoverycoach #divorcesupportforwomen #midlifecoach #midlifeinfluencer ♬ original sound – Val Jones – Life Coach
Unlike hiking, or brisk walking, silent walking does not require specific physical qualities, since it is a certain way of moving forward without a specific goal. The objective is simple: put one foot in front of the other while trying to think of nothing other than the nature around you, and of course without music or podcasts in your ears. The idea being to combine the physical benefits of walking (muscle tone, respiratory functions, digestion, lower blood pressure) with the advantages of silence – or at least the absence of technology.
Silent walking is nothing new, of course, whatever some socionauts say, but it is clear that they are right when it comes to discussing its health benefits. While there is no scientific data on this specific activity, a study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology in October 2020, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, indicated that contact with nature could improve mood and allowed to think less. Other work or surveys have also shown that nature promotes productivity, and that it more generally allows us to be in better health. As for silence, it seems that it is increasingly sought after, particularly by city dwellers, as shown by the success of silent retreats or ‘quiet parks’, which invite you to reconnect with yourself and nature far away. from any noise of human origin.
Ultimately, the origins of ‘silent walking’ do not matter, the important thing now remains the popularity of this physical activity which is beneficial for both physical health and well-being, allowing you to put your phone on… silent.
