Strolling with Presence & Connection

The practice of Volta, is a cherished social and cultural tradition in Greece, referring to a leisurely walk, typically taken in the early evening. The word volta means "stroll" or "walk," and it is deeply embedded in daily life.

In the early evening, people go for a walk. Not to get anywhere. Not for exercise. Just… to walk. Families, friends, neighbors—they step outside and stroll. No agenda. No destination. Just movement, presence, and connection. It’s beautifully simple. And surprisingly profound.

It is a time for relaxation, socializing, and enjoying the outdoors. Often, people walk along the seafront, through town squares, or down main streets, greeting neighbors and chatting with friends. It’s common to see families, elderly couples, and young people walking together, sometimes stopping for coffee or ice cream. Volta is a simple yet profound expression of hospitality, community, and appreciation for life.

Presence

In its essence, Volta is presence. It’s not about getting anywhere fast. It’s about being here, walking with awareness, feeling the breeze, listening to the sounds of the neighborhood, and letting the day settle.

In mindfulness, we talk about “walking meditation” where each step is a homecoming to the present moment. Volta becomes a practice of embodied awareness—feeling your feet touch the ground, your breath move through you, your senses open to the world.

Just as Thich Nhat Hanh says, “Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet,” Volta invites us to slow down and savor life—not in a retreat center or remote location, but in the street where we live.

Connection

Volta is rarely done alone. Families, partners, elders, and friends stroll together. It’s a time to connect without distraction. Phones go in pockets. Stories unfold. Silences are shared. Eyes meet.

Volta is also about connection—the power of community and presence. Volta is a return to shared space, to real-time human connection, where presence replaces performance, and people meet as they are. It’s a time to reconnect with your kids, your partner, your neighbor, or even just yourself In a world of screens and speed, it’s a shared pause—a reminder that presence matters more than productivity.

Volta can be a great way to slow down and enjoy the beauty of this moment with friends & family. Whether it’s a beachside stroll, a walk through a lively downtown, or a peaceful evening in nature, a volta can be a perfect daily practice. 

Give it a try. Choose one evening this week. Step outside. Leave your phone. Walk slowly. Look around. Feel your breath. Listen. Walk with someone you love—or walk alone with presence. That’s Volta. And like many of the deepest practices, it’s deceptively simple. But over time, it can gently change how you relate to your friends, your community,  the world, and to yourself.

Walking Meditation

Wherever we walk, we can practice meditation. This means that we know that we are walking. We walk just for walking. We walk with freedom and solidity, no longer in a hurry. We are present with each step. And when we wish to talk we stop our movement and give our full attention to the other person, to our words and to listening.

Walking in this way should not be a privilege. We should be able to do it in every moment. Look around and see how vast life is, the trees, the white clouds, the limitless sky. Listen to the birds. Feel the fresh breeze. Life is all around and we are alive and healthy and capable of walking in peace.

Let us walk as a free person and feel our steps get lighter. Let us enjoy every step we make. Each step is nourishing and healing. As we walk, imprint our gratitude and our love on the earth.

We may like to use a gatha as we walk. Taking two or three steps for each in-breath and each out-breath,

Breathing in “I have arrived”; Breathing out “I am home”

Breathing in “In the here”; Breathing out “In the now”

Breathing in “I am solid”; Breathing out “I am free”

Breathing in “In the ultimate”; Breathing out “I dwell”