This article from the Mayo Clinic refers to exercise as meditation in motion, and briefly discusses the benefits of both.
Below is my running meditation.
The sun's up. Shoes on. Ipod shuffled. Muscles warm. Run. Inhale. Exhale. Keep running. Focus on the trees ahead. The air is stagnant. Their leaves drooping. Breathe. Inhale deep. Exhale. Run. One foot. Then the other. Meditate on the trees. Your breath blows through the branches dusting off their leaves. Think past your throbbing joints. Push through the fatigue. Quiet your screaming thoughts. Keep running. One foot. Then the other. Inhale. Exhale. Focus on the trees ahead. Their leaves need dusting.....
What's your coping mechanism? Is it working for you? Does it benefit you in the long run? If you can't answer these questions with confidence, it may be time to change things up.
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I have to say I've never tried meditation. I always thought of it as one sitting Indian style in a quiet room in the corner with their hands gently resting on their knees, palms up, with their middle and thumb fingers touching. All the while humming "Ahhhh-ummmmm, Ahhhh-ummmmm".
ReplyDeleteApparently times have changed, as should I. Everyone needs an outlet, a way to relax the mind as well as the body, and I have yet to find mine.
I did not want to run this morning. I did go run this morning. The trees make me feel good. I am in a better state of mind. I will go again tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteThanks for mentioning that Debbie, I didn't realize that people still think that way about meditation. There are many forms of it and it's very therapeutic. You can use basic meditation for relaxation, like 2 minutes at your desk at work. I use it mostly for coping, and pain.
ReplyDeletePD, Sometimes we just don't have it in us. Pick yourself back up the next day and try again. You've taken the first step, and that is recognizing how much better you feel after you run. It's OK to allow yourself a break every now and then, you are more likely to stick with it long term.
Blessings Y'All!