Feeling good
Silent walk takes hikers on meditative mind trip through Austin wildflower gardens
Last August, dozens of Austinites took a musical journey into mindfulness through a silent hike through the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. The company that runs them is back for a second hike — on a date that probably won't be quite so sweaty.
A live-to-headphones SilentWalk meditative musical experience, conducted by MindTravel, will take place at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center on Thursday, March 12. In addition to the hike, MindTravel will host a SilentPaddle and Floating Live-to-Headphone Concert on Lady Bird Lake Sunday, March 15.
SilentWalks are a concept created by composer and concert pianist Murray Hidary. During the walk, hikers wear wireless headphones to hear music, guidance, and thoughtful commentary from Hidary.
"Explore your city in a whole new way and allow yourself to be carried away by a deep feeling of freedom and connection," MindTravel says. "This music-driven experience is a new way to practice walking meditation while fostering a greater connection to the world around us, to each other, and to yourself.
After a quick introduction and intention-setting, the group will take a meditative walk, set to music, while exploring Klyde Warren Park. The music piped into their headphones — the core of a MindTravel experience — are original compositions written by Hidary. The peaceful music is meant to match the imagery in the background, resulting in a meditative or trancelike feeling.
Hidary, a Brooklyn-born composer, pianist, visual artist, tech pioneer, entrepreneur, and physics lover, created MindTravel in 2014 after finding that music helped him heal after the tragic death of his sister in a motorcycle accident. "Now, he is on a mission to share music’s healing power with others and make it the centerpiece of a multi-sensory meditative journey," the company says.
The two Austin experiences are part of a 70-city MindTravel spring tour, which features events around Texas, including Galveston on March 10, San Antonio on March 11, and Dallas on March 16.
The Austin hike takes place from 6:30-8:30 pm. It is free, but registration is required here. Tickets for the paddle are $35-$110, depending on the boat or board, and can be purchased here.
Participants should wear comfortable walking shoes, bring water, and take appropriate precautions for the weather. MindTravel will provide the headphones.
