Mindful Running The Key To Happy Exercise?

As we think of different ways to use our one exercise slot per day and a lot of people reporting feeling stressed, fearful and anxious, Mindful running is worth exploring.

The definition of Mindfulness by Jon Kabat Zinn ‘Paying attention in the present moment non-judgementally’.

If we are running or exercising Mindfully we can focus our attention more on our surroundings. Tuning in with your senses, what you see, hear, smell and feel?

Noticing the feeling of the feet on the floor, the wind in your hair, you get the picture, what could it be like if you were to imagine you were a child running for the first ever time? This in Mindfulness we call the beginner’s mind, bringing the curiosity in. Did you know curiosity and anxiety cannot exist in the brain at the same time?

The non-judgement element in the definition of Mindfulness for me also means kindness. If we are being truly non-judgemental then we are being kind to ourselves and others. Being kind has huge power to radically shift the frameworks which shape how we live. Kindness literally transforms us. We know this through science, social connection and kindness creates chemicals such an oxytocin in our bodies which not only creates wonderful benefits for our resilience and health but actually creates more resources for us to use in our body and brain, hence more energy to run!

Also if we are buying kind to ourselves we can be kinder to our bodies, as we are being more mindful and aware we can notice discomfort and pain sooner and be less likely to get injuries.

This is a two-fold effect and created a circle…as the more you run the more endorphins will be released and the happier you will be, the more energy you will have, the more you will and so on!

If you want to try mindfully running start with walking, pay close attention to your breath: how does it flow into the body, how does it flow out? Then you can concentrate on the rhythm of your own steps, on your feet: how do they feel, which foot goes down first? If the thoughts drift away for a short time, it doesn't matter. Gently bringing your attention back this is the Mindfulness.

What could you try? Are you up for giving Mindful running or walking a try?

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Article By Gemma Sandwell Bsc Hons

Mindfulness Teacher and TEDx speaker