Connect With the World x TfL

Hi, and welcome to this Headspace walk, taking you from Camden Town to King's Cross via the towpath of Regent's Canal, a perfect opportunity to take a new route and experience a tranquil stroll along a scenic waterway. The walk we'll be doing is just shy of a mile. Our starting point is outside Camden Town tube exit. The exit to Kentish Town road and London Zoo. Head there now and just find a quiet spot to stand for a moment. It's not always easy to get away from the busy streets of the capital, but this famous canal offers an escape in and of itself. A kind of calmness we can savor, same city, different route a whole new experience. Before we begin, let's just take a moment to get centered physically so that during the walk we can get centered mentally. So first, find a pocket of space and place your feet shoulder width apart, standing straight but relaxed. And just feeling the weight of your body on your feet, subtly shifting your weight from side to side and becoming aware of your contact with the ground. Just stay with this gentle sensation just for a moment or two, and syncing body and mind. We bring our attention into the present moment, which allows the mind to calm down a little bit, leaving us room to feel clearer, calmer, and more content. This exercise is designed to help us step away from preoccupying thoughts and feelings so that we can instead find and enjoy the spaciousness of mind that allows us to better connect with ourselves and the world around us. So take a breath, feel grounded. Ready? So standing outside the station and directly in front of you, there is a fork in the road. We're going to be taking the road on the right, Camden Road. Let's start to walk crossing Kentish Town Road at the pedestrian crossing and take Camden Road to head towards the canal. No special pace required, just breathing in and out, feeling the natural rhythm of your gait, the way your arms subtly swing by your side. Don't think too much about all of this, and gentle focus is enough. By bringing our attention to these sensations, we keep our awareness in the body to stop us getting distracted or caught up in the thinking mind. Maybe this is somewhere you've walked before. Maybe it's all new, but pay attention to what's around you, not necessarily looking around but just taking in the whole environment, the buildings, the light, the people you pass, the sounds, the aromas. You're simply making observations, deliberately tuning in to the world around you without getting wrapped up in these observations. If you find yourself wandering into thinking, bring your attention back to the arms, the legs, the feet striking the pavement as you walk, all the sensations. This is our anchor to the present moment, our object of focus, the point we come back to...