Walking Meditation: How to Do Pohaeng, the Slow Walk

Pohaeng is the slow walk Korean monks take between periods of seated meditation or after meals to settle body and mind, resting attention on the feeling of each foot touching and leaving the ground. To do it, walk much more slowly than usual and notice every single step. At Hapjang (합장), the online temple Goyosa, choose [Slow walk] at a forest bench on the Slow Forest Trail and a guided walk begins at 0.24 times your normal pace.

Pace: 0.24 times your normal walking speed
Where: Starts from a forest bench on the Slow Forest Trail
Guidance: 3 short prompts while you walk
Time needed: No set time. 5–10 minutes is plenty
What you need: Nothing

How is walking meditation different from a stroll?

On a stroll you walk to look at things or lift your mood, but in pohaeng the walking itself is where your attention rests. It is a break that loosens a body stiff from long sitting, and also a way of carrying the practice from the cushion into motion. A similar term is gyeonghaeng (經行, close to the Japanese kinhin); some temples use the two words interchangeably, while others draw a slight distinction.

Common difficulties when walking slowly

If going so slowly makes you wobble, speed up a little. Balance comes first.
If staring at your feet stiffens your neck, let your gaze rest softly on the ground two or three steps ahead.
If boredom comes up, try treating the noticing of that boredom as part of the walk.

Who it suits

It suits people who find sitting still hard, or who want to move a little after a breathing session. All you need is room for a few steps back and forth, like a hallway at home or a quiet corner of a park.

How to do walking meditation (pohaeng)

Stand and breathe Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and take a couple of settling breaths.
Fold your hands Rest one hand lightly over the other in front of your belly, or clasp them behind your back. When your hands are still, the mind sways less too.
Break a step into parts Step forward while feeling each part in turn: the heel lifting, the foot moving forward, the sole touching down.
Match your breath Once you are used to it, try pairing breath and steps, such as one step on the in-breath and one on the out-breath.
Come back When you notice you are lost in thought, pause for a moment, then return to the feeling in the soles of your feet.
Stop and finish At the end, stand still, take a few breaths, feel your whole body once, and finish.

Try it in Hapjang

Choose [Slow walk] at a forest bench on the Slow Forest Trail and your pace slows to 0.24 times normal, with three short prompts appearing as you walk. There is nothing else to press; just let your breath follow the steps on screen. The same bench also offers compassion practice, so it is easy to sit and continue after your walk.

Enter the temple

Frequently asked questions

How slowly should you walk in walking meditation?

There is no set speed, but walk slowly enough to feel each movement of your feet. If your balance wobbles, it is fine to go a little faster.

Are pohaeng and gyeonghaeng the same thing?

Both refer to walking as a practice. Depending on the temple or tradition, they are used to mean the same thing or are distinguished slightly.

Last updated 2026-11-07