Many Buddhist use a type of walking meditation. Meditation is more than sitting in the lotus position and emptying your mind. It's a form of focusing your attention on the task at hand.
And there ate countless studies that show relaxation and meditation has positive health consequences
Studies are pretty much useless these days, they have been corrupted to suit someone's agenda. Your own experience is what counts, if sitting still and focusing is of benefit to you, then do it, but I would argue their are more effective ways to minimise stress, and also meditation can have the opposite effect, it can actually cause people distress.
Meditation was never really meant for the Western suburbanite yuppie with too much money and time on their hands. It is an ancient eastern practice used by Monks to attain enlightenment (Whatever the fuck that is). The fact is, Westerners are so impressionable and looking for new and crazy ways to spend their time and money, meditation is just the flavour of the month so to speak. Meditation in the Westerners hand is more than likely to fuck them up than it is too help them.
Just keep it simple, stick to your own Cultures beliefs and tradition, their will be value in them, don't go dabbling in cultures that have no bearing on your current one. Exercise, eat well, study, make friends etc etc, Keep it Simple, forget about enlightenment and just GO FOR A WALK!
