The spiritual benefits of running and walking

The benefits of running or brisk walking far exceed the physical: Tibetan lama Sakyong Mipham advocates running as a form of meditation and has written Running With the Mind of Meditation explaining his method. Here are some of the more spiritual benefits of running and walking.

By Hilary Pereira

Communing with nature

When you walk or run through your neighbourhood you get to see all sorts of things you might miss completely during a car journey.

Birds, insects and other wildlife are abundant even in urbanised areas – you just need to take time out to look for them - and you can also gain a better appreciation of the many plants, trees and hedgerows you’ve never previously noticed.

Exploring your local area in this way can be as refreshing as visiting a whole new neighbourhood.
Blowing the cobwebs away

When your brain is fogged up or you’ve been burning the candle at both ends or generally partying too hard, there’s nothing like a brisk walk or run to blow away the cobwebs.

You’ll return with a clearer head, recharged batteries and a brighter outlook.
Meditation time

It’s not only Tibetan lamas who swear by running as a form of meditation – it’s a school of thought that’s growing in the western world, too. Focusing on your breathing and your every footfall, whilst emptying your mind of other worries, is regarded by many as mentally healing.

Try leaving the mp3 player at home and spending your running or walking time in meditation - and discover for yourself how well your exercise can be enhanced.
Building your dreams

Running or walking can give you a great opportunity to think about your hopes and dreams, or come up with more.

There’s something about being away from the daily grind, even for a short time, that can inspire you to make your life more fulfilling, and being in the open air gives a good sense that there’s a wider world to explore out there.
Thinking more objectively

If you’re wrestling with a knotty problem, a run or walk can help clear your head and give you the ability to look at things from a different perspective.

Taking yourself right away from the source of the situation will allow you some dedicated time for thinking things through and the opportunity to see more objectively.
Endorphin power

When you exercise vigorously, your body produces ‘feel-good’ hormones called endorphins, which are released by the brain into the bloodstream.

The effects are best felt after your run or brisk walk, when you’ll feel more energised, but also wonderfully relaxed. Regular exercise can raise your mood generally, as the action of endorphins can last for hours at a time.

Running is particularly beneficial, especially if you challenge yourself: the euphoria this can trigger is known as the ‘runner’s high’.
Energising yourself

Rest can be very restorative, but if you’re feeling sluggish, running or walking briskly can really boost your energy levels.

This is because increasing your heart rate means you’re supplying all your vital organs with more oxygen, revving them into action.
Spiritual awareness

Being ‘at one’with nature and yourself can also boost feelings of spirituality. Spirituality isn’t only religion-based – although some people do feel more in touch with their God when they are in the great outdoors and challenging their bodies.

For others, spirituality is about the essence of life itself, aesthetics, beauty and wildlife, and exercise can enhance the feelings of contentment brought about by communing with all these things.
Working off stress and anger

If you ever have the urge to punch a hole through a wall – or if you have a fondness for stress-relieving gadgets – it might be worth you trying running as a way of working off feelings of anger or stress.

It’s more productive and less destructive than having a knee-jerk reaction or succumbing to the physical ill-effects of long-term stress and will keep you fitter into the bargain.
Getting in touch with your body

Our bodies can surprise us, especially when we challenge ourselves, and running can help you to focus on your body’s extraordinary mechanisms as well as its strength.

Increasing your running distance and intensity gradually as you tune in to your body’s ability can be hugely fulfilling, and you’ll feel greater pride in your physique as you increase your stamina and build lean muscle.
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