Walking groups, Mindful Walking | Fresno Mindfulness Walks

  • Home
  • Videos and Podcast
  • Contact
  • Resources
  • Previous Walks
  • Privacy Policy
  • Prev
  • Next

Reflection Walk #32, Year 2, Valley Oak Elementary, 5/21/16

October 20, 2016 By fmw

Reflection: Walk #32, Yr 2, Saturday morning, May 21, 2016, 8 a.m., five walkers met at Valley Oak Elementary on the corner of Champlain and Friant in northeast Fresno and walked around Woodward Lake neighborhoods and up and around Fort Washington Country Club.

Church bells tolled at 8 a.m. and walkers were greeted with the cool spray from the large water fountain at Holy Spirit Catholic Church.

Sights: large homes, man made lake, spotless trash bin area, manicured lawns, walls more than fences, landscaped walkways and yards, huge mature trees, row of mature shade trees, dogs on leashes being walked, dogs as pets, one cat, house with Japanese landscaping, boats on the lake, paddle boats, kid on lake, man fishing, walkers with earphones, walker with Starbucks cup, tops of houses over rooftops, numerous garage sales, country club for Woodward lakes, blue and grey house with bright red door, exercisers, women wearing yoga pants, un-fenced, open and beautifully landscaped Valley Oak Elementary school, walkers pushing strollers, bird with worm, new model cars, older cars cruising garage sales, political campaign signs, gardener truck and trailers, painted rock-art at VO school, Margaret Hudson figures/art, clubhouse with tennis, pool, and dock. Fort Washington country club and golf course, rolling hills of golf course, complementary dog poop bags, cyclists with cycle gear and outfit. Walkers noticed one older loud Mercedes with dents, which stood out from the primarily new and well maintained cars.

Sounds: church bells tolling, church water fountain, lawn mowers, sprinklers, yard features and fountains, fish line reeling in, men talk while golfing, few dogs barking, big tires on road, lawn blowers, very quiet, peaceful, cars driving by, garage sale conversation, wind in the trees, music from ear phones, car alarm going off.

smells: fresh grass, sharp clean air.

Feeling: some walkers expressed feeling awkward because of the too perfect environment. Walker expressed feeling out of place. Residents out walking and exercising were fashionable and well groomed. Did we look out of place? Walking only this neighborhood one would never know that Fresno is one of the poorest cities in America.

Walkers met Lisa who is a regular walker here. She likes to walk the 2.2 miles around the lake. Lisa says she likes to walk the route because she doesn’t have to think, she just walks the circle. She usually walks with weights in the morning before work. Today she’s talking a vacation and walking with Starbucks and her phone.

One walker stopped and talked to a woman named Dori gathered with a few other people. Dori had organized for neighbors to meet at the corner of Sheldrake and Westside on the 3rd Saturday of each month in a grassy area with trees. They bring chairs and sit around and chat to catch up. Dori is president of the Woodward Lake association. She maintains a map and newsletter.

These are our brothers and sisters in Fresno. All of our lives and futures are tied together.

https://www.facebook.com/fresnomindfulnesswalks/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1788535944766485

This entry was posted in Uncategorized

Related Posts

  • Discover or rediscover Fresno by walking mindfully

    September 5, 2019January 16, 2022
  • The Design Cycle – everything begins with empathy.

    September 23, 2018September 25, 2018
  • Better than Zuckerberg’s virtual reality – ‘real reality’

    August 26, 2018September 5, 2018

Post navigation

  Reflection Walk 31, Yr 2, East Rotary Park at Cedar and Sierra, 5/14/16
Reflection Walk #33, Yr 2, Bluff and Churchill/ SJ River, 6/11/16  

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Group walks are currently on hold – but don’t let that stop you from exploring your city!

Please use this Fresno Mindfulnessw Walks website as a resource to inspire and guide you on your own journey of walking mindfully!  Enjoy!
Lori Clanton

How FMW works —

Fresno Mindfulness Walks are weekly opportunities for people to walk together for a 4 mile route through a different Fresno neighborhood each week. Walkers practice active mindfulness by attending to the sights, sounds, smells, feelings.  Walkers do not talk to each other on walks, but we do greet people we meet along the way.  The walk location and exact start time are posted just a few days in advance. All walks are free, require no RSVP, and anyone is welcome to join one walk or many. To learn about upcoming walks, you can sign up for a weekly email in the yellow bar at the top of this website and/or LIKE and follow the FMW Facebook page.

 

To learn about the routine that begins each walk and read some of the resources that have inspired FMW, check out the resources page.

 

Weekly walks are about 4 miles and take about an hour and a half. Walks are at a medium pace, often on uneven ground, and sometimes take longer than expected because walkers see themselves as curious travelers lingering to observe or going around a different way.

Check out our Facebook page

Newsletter Signup

Archives

  • September 2019
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • October 2015
  • August 2015

Recent Posts

  • Discover or rediscover Fresno by walking mindfully
  • The Design Cycle – everything begins with empathy.
  • Better than Zuckerberg’s virtual reality – ‘real reality’
  • The FMW Story
  • “I’d rather find ways to help than watch TV.” Jerry, retired, who sweeps his neighborhood. 4/14/18

© Fresno Mindfulness Walks "Breathe - Walk - Observe" Privacy Policy