Be Well Walks - Flow of Inspiration Walk

Hello, and welcome to Whittaker Avenue and Point 1 of the BeRichmond Be-Well Walks bought to you by Soulhub.

My name is Carmen Rendell and today I will be taking you on a very gentle 20min walking meditation along the towpath of Richmond.

If you are not familiar with Richmond please make sure you download the map from the website.

If you wish or need to stop for any reason please pause the recording and I will be here ready for you when you return.

Just press play to resume or choose the appropriate track in relation to the appropriate point on the map.

As you stand here at Point 1, just to give you some orientation, you should be facing Richmond Riverside with Richmond Library behind you. The Pro Patria statue is directly in front of you, and Scott’s restaurant on your right.

Here, at the top of the steps you’ll see the ‘BeRichmond’ branded post with a QR code on it.

This is where your BE-Well Walk starts and finishes. This is point 1 and you will be guided along all 7 points of the Be-Well Walk.

Overall the walk can take about 20 mins and if you want to extend it further, at point 4, you will be given the option to add more time to your walk.

In a moment you’ll be taking the steps down to the riverside and turning left, past the Peggy Jean boat and under Richmond Bridge along the towpath.

Our BE well walk is inspired by the river here at Richmond, and I’ll be guiding you as you walk alongside it.

This BeWell Walk is called ‘Flow of Inspiration ’ as I hope to leave you feeling energised, motivated and inspired for the next thing in your day or life. All is possible.

To start therefore I’d like you to take the steps. As you do, I invite you to be inspired by your surroundings.

What can you see? Different boats. What colours are they? Notice the different sizes. Their names, how many seats they have, the fittings, are they brass/wooden?

And I’d like to you to pick a boat that you’d happily take out. Consider why you picked that boat?

As you’re thinking about this, just wander up, and I’ll see you just beyond the tunnel by the steps outside of Tide Tables Café.

Welcome to Point 2 of the BeRichmond Be-Well Walk by Soulhub. (Tide Tables)

The river is a significant feature of Richmond. it’s often where much of the hustle and bustle happens, and we gather with friends, family and for activities.

We have a natural kinship and affinity with water, as our bodies after all, are more than half water.

It can take many forms, and today, the river will have a form of its own. Maybe it’s very still, calm or maybe it’s choppy and wild.

To support our theme of inspiration whilst you’re walking I’d like to invite you to look at the river and observe it, as if for the first time.

I’d like you to consider two things:

1 – What do you notice about the river that maybe you’ve never noticed before?
2 – What feeling does it stir up in you?

So as you walk alongside Mears Walk, down past Thames River Boats and Gaucho maybe sit for a moment and consider those two questions or walk and let them float with you.

And I’ll see you at Point 3, which is just past the Midhirst Site on your left.

Welcome to Point 3 of the BeRichmond Be-Well walk with Soulhub.

When we walk and observe, we are more mindful. Of our geography, our home planet, town, and the ways in which our species has altered and is continuing to change the landscape.

I’d like you to take out your headphones, observe and listen along this part.

Observe the buildings, the plants, the river banks, the trees, the insects.

What can you hear? A robin, the song of a wren, or the thrush of a blackbird.

People talking, and what are they saying?

Maybe you can hear overhead planes, or the local cars?

Maybe it’s a wedding at the Bingham Hotel on the left hand side where you hear laughter, or music.

And notice how you feel listening to all of it.

When you reach Point 4 which is right in front of Petersham Meadows, just past Eileen’s Café on the left hand side in Buccleach’s Gardens, I’ll meet you there.

Enjoy the sounds, and just stay on the same path, and you won’t get lost.

Welcome to Point 4 of the BeRichmond Be-Well walk with Soulhub.

We are nature, the clouds, the water, the trees. In front of you should see nature it it’s wonderful form, the expansive Petersham Meadows.

Here you can choose to go in through the gate and walk around the meadow, or you can continue along the path to the water, and take the little kissing gate on the right and head back through Buccleaugh Gardens and walk towards Richmond on the Towpath.

Whether you choose to go into the Meadow or not, I still invite you to take a moment here for yourself. To find a spot in the meadow to sit and be, or in the gardens on a bench.

Nature does an incredible job at balancing our nervous systems, and so whilst you’re here, I invite you to welcome all your present feelings.

See if you can imagine them floating above you like a cloud, and allow them to float on by. If it’s feelings of anger, worthlessness and overwhelm, just let them float on by. If it’s calmness, joy, happiness, then also just let them float away.

Imagine them floating past you, without any need to hold onto them.

When you’re ready, come back through the gate, and walk on back towards Richmond until you reach the Bingham Hotel on your right hand side.

Welcome to Point 5 of the BeRichmond Be-Well walk with Soulhub.

Some of these paths date back centuries, and so we know that thousands or indeed millions of others have walked them before us.

As you walk along the Towpath you will see many benches on the right hand side that share moments and memories of those who have walked the path.

I invite you to observe them, and the wording, and notice which words resonate or not with you.

Can you picture them, or imagine what it would have been like during their time?

Just see where you imagination goes. Do you see them with another, or on their own? Are they tall, short? What would they be wearing? What would they see on the river?

And if you feel brave, maybe consider what you would like written on your bench if you were no longer here.

Sit, or walk with these thoughts, and I’ll see you back at Tide Tables Café (on the right) for Point 6.

Welcome to Point 6 of the BeRichmond Be-Well walk with Soulhub. (Tide Tables)

As you walk along this final stretch of the river towards the final point 7 back at Whittaker Avenue, I invite you to slow and take a moment.

Take a moment to breath. It’s rare these days as our living experiences are often with a background of noise of worries and anxieties, self-doubts, stress and uncertainties.

I invite you to take a moment to foster and live in the present moment. Be here now.

I invite you to breathe in slowly first - noticing that your body will tell you how much air it needs.

Feel the air as you breathe in, as the air flows in, opening your lungs, following the out breath as the lungs deflate.

Press pause on your recording, and do that exercise 4/5 times.

Walk slowly to Whittaker Avenue under the bridge and along the riverfront, and I’ll meet you there.

Welcome to Point 7 of the BeRichmond Be-Well walk with Soulhub.

We’re at the end of our ‘Flow of Inspiration’ walk. And so as you sit here, or take a walk back to your office, or on your way home, I would like you to reflect on all the stimulus you’ve received on your walk.

Think about the people you’ve seen along the way.

The sounds and flow of the river.

The noises along the river.

The historical buildings.

The emotions you’ve noticed within yourself.

And finally I’d like to invite you to consider something which you feel inspired to do differently.

If the river was to carry a message for you to hear today, what would it be?

And finally we’d like to thank you for joining us for your guided walk. For taking the time for you, and for which I hope you’ve found some new inspiration for yourself today.

Please take a moment to be thankful for all the deliciousness that’s around you on this short walk, and for all the inspiration and calmness you’ve received.

Come back and visit us again, and see what new inspiration might arise.

It’s been a pleasure being your host and guide today.

Go well……