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Prepare for the worst and expect the best!  

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PUNCTUALITY, We can not wait for late comers! Do yourself a favour, give yourself plenty of time to arrive at meeting place promptly. Better to arrive early. Prepare food and clothes the night before. email info@shanti-chi.com to register interest. Please do not call after the walk begins on the day as walk leader is focused.

FOOD

Drink during the walk. Bring drinking water. Eat at the end of the walk unless otherwise stated. Bring fresh fruits, salads and veg, dried fruits, nuts generally seeds and healthy snacks. Bring Food to share! Please AVOID crisps, sugary sweets, meats, diary or fizzy drinks before, during and immediately after the walk, as these foods ARE UNHEALTHY and their consumption makes it hard to achieve calm and connect with your well being. 

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CLOTHES

Wear loose clothing and 2 or more layers, top and bottom, depending on the weather. It is better to wear clothes a little too big than too tight. The warm air you generate when walking gets trapped in between the layers so when you stop moving for any reason there is a heat supply to keep you warm until you move again. unless we have the sun. It is more effective to wear many layers rather than one big layer. Bring scarf, gloves and spare socks. Wear clothes that allow you to be free. Jeans and corduroy can become heavy when wet and restrict your movemet when dry! It helps to bring a waterproof jacket and trousers. 

FOOTWEAR

Wear footwear that will allow you comfort for the duration of the walk about 2 hours. Walking shoes, walking sandals, walking boots or a good pair of wellington boots with a good pair of socks. It is all about staying warm, dry and comfortable. 

FOOT EXERCISES

Our feet get used an awful lot, but we neglect to stretch and exercise them. Five simple exercises that don't take time and you can do sitting at a computer, on a bus or train journey, in the woods, etc. for just 5 minutes to ensure happy feet for walking everyday -

1. Stand with your feet parallel, shoulder length apart. Slowly peel one foot off the ground starting with the heal, working your way to the toes, until it is just the tip of the toe on the ground. Then in reverse slowly push your foot back onto the ground until the whole foot is evenly distributed. Do the same with other foot. repeat 4 times. 2. Place a ball (tennis ball size) under your foot, making sure every part of your foot makes contact with the ball. Either do one foot at a time or sit down and do both feet together. 3. Flex and point your feet. 4. Turn your feet at the ankle, in both directions 9 times each way. 5. At the end of your day give your feet a massage with nice smelling oils such as lavender, rose, ylang ylang, If you don't have oils just simple give them a loving rub.

RUCKSACK

The kind of bag you carry is important to your comfort. I know it is just a couple of hours but it is wise to get into good habits when walking. That way the transition from half a day to all day to a whole weekend and longer walks become easier. A good size rucksack, with wide padded shoulder traps, wide padded waist strap and back padding. This means you can carry your food, spare clothes, spare socks, plastic bags, something to sit on and first aid kit with comfort. 

FIRST AID KIT

For cleaning cuts, preventing insect bites and / or treating insect bites furnish yourself with essential oils; Lavender, Tea tree, St John's wort oil, lemon grass. Its always usefull to have water, cotton wool, tissues and or baby wipes

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INITIATION 1These walking meditations have been designed as either a stand alone event or you can choose to challenge yourself to take the first steps to walking alone at night. If you want to know more about initiation 1, (where you learn to build the self confidence and self esteem to walk through the woods at night alone) then contact Shanti-Chi at info@shanti-chi.com. Looking forward to meeting your brave heart. Challenge yourself to do all 8 rambles over 8 months and on the 9th ramble, which we organise separately, challenge yourself to take a short walk alone in the dark with community support close by. The 8 walks will encourage you to get to know the lay of the particular woodland and build your confidence. The aim is to feel confident enough by the 9th ramble to walk solo through the woodland for between 10 - 15 minutes. These walks challenge you to face yourself and embrace your fears. By joining the free spirit night ramblers for regular walks you can achieve night walk initiation 1. Just to note you can take as many walks as you need to feel ready for the solo walk. Follow in the footsteps of Harriet Tubman, Kimpa Vita and other great warrior ancestors to gain freedom.