20. Juni 2026

Painting the Path: A Body Moving Through Nature’s Art

My "day off" is frequently my "day ON": on the trails, when my senses are heightened; my eyes, ears and heart open. Last week, it aligned perfectly with a business trip – a day between meetings and listening to talks where I meet nature and listen to my body. What a great privilege to explore a new terrain, Saxon Switzerland, with its bizarre rock formations, sandstone beds and pillars, green canyons and steep gorges! A marked trail, the "Malerweg", reflects the footsteps of artists who absorbed this unique scenery and turned it into paintings.

When planning the trip, I struggled: should I make this a hike or a run? More time to discover the breath-taking landscape, or more kilometers for more variety? In unknown and unpredictable environments, I often design branching routes. As in a decision-tree, I work my way forward from the roots, to the branches and leaves. One moment enclosed in a narrow gorge, then on a viewpoint like the Bastei, where the landscape opens into vastness and my body recalibrates to scale again.

Step by step, both mentally and physically, feeling more connected to my senses than to my thoughts. Still, my mind is focused as the terrain demands attention. My eyes are scanning the ground for slick stones or roots on the forest paths. Occasional dirt roads are interrupted by a lot of stairs, made of stone, wood or steel. There is no steady cruising pace. The trail encourages me to constantly switch between uphill hiking, nimble stair-stepping and a rolling stride on the forest paths. On soft pine needles, I can barely hear my feet hitting the ground, whereas sharp metallic clacks accompany any movement on the stairs.

In the gorges, the air seems heavy. The smell of moisture is dominant, from wet mosses, winding streams and even small waterfalls. Rain was forecasted, I can sense it in the wind. About 100m before my last branching point, it starts to drizzle and soon to pour. Despite the shorter branch, I am soaked in the end – having absorbed water and a wonderful scenery.

written by sina@lozania-lifestyle.de