Hello and welcome to a guided meditation from runninganthropologist.
Com.
Today we're developing a relationship with the breath.
The breath is key to meditation and to running.
If we develop a relationship with our breath,
We do not have to struggle quite as much.
Intuitively we runners know this is essential.
Developing a relationship with one of the most elemental aspects of our being,
Of being alive.
In meditation,
Placing our attention on the breath takes the mind away from daydreaming or worrying.
Too much thinking,
It gives our mind something to focus on and something to do.
In running we also have obstacles that we face.
Be it just getting up to do a bit of exercise,
Putting on our workout clothes,
Stretching,
Doing the small steps to get ready.
And breathing can be one of these.
Establishing discipline,
Establishing time for us to work on ourselves,
A quiet time or a down time that is set aside from running and then bringing that breathing practice into our running or simply put that awareness of our breath.
Things will get in the way.
We will have interruptions or not meet our commitment.
But if we try to make a commitment to spend some time in silence focusing on our breath each day,
This can really support our exercise practice and help us develop better aerobic activity,
A positive attitude.
For running,
Removes the stagnant air,
Revitalizes our nervous system,
Increases our stamina and in the end helps us to relax.
It's an opportunity to strengthen,
To reinvigorate,
To cleanse.
Let's simply begin by taking a few deep breaths.
As we do so,
Trying to fill up our belly,
Feeling that breath go deep down as we breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth.
Breathing in,
We're taking in new fresh air,
Sending it throughout our body,
Deep into our body,
Feeling our stomach expand and as we breathe out,
Breathing out of our mouth,
Letting go of any stagnant air,
Any negative or tenseness that is trapped inside,
Any discomfort in the body.
We'll try to breathe into that,
Breathing in,
Dealing with any discomfort,
Letting oxygen physically revitalize that part of our body.
As we deepen,
We listen for the reverberations or the messages of the natural world.
We're training our mind and our body to become one and move together.
Breathing in deeply,
Through the nose and out through the mouth.
Let's continue this practice for just a few minutes and we'll have a few practices at the end in visualization.
I begin to run simply for exercise.
I continue running for its spirituality,
Its connection.
It's connecting my mind,
Body and spirit.
Everything that has been done since the ancient world to expand our minds,
Make them more flexible,
Increase our happiness by making our bodies stronger.
In the modern world,
I'm faced with many challenges to my physical and mental condition,
But taking time today to breathe is an investment in that practice of grounding and in my future running.
I'm no longer dealing with the discomfort of my body,
But feeling relaxed and flexible,
Feeling willing and accepting of the mental relief that comes from breathing and running and physical activity and training.
In fact,
My natural state,
Running,
Walking,
Talking,
Can all come together to engage,
To be active,
To be sympathetic to others,
To deepen my activity and to also deepen my rest.
I will become more sensitive,
More aware as my organs and my blood flow deeply and I'm able to practice more and more.
Keeping my body still now allows me to see the opposite and the joy in allowing my body to move when I start running.
Exercise can support my meditation and meditation can be a support for my exercise.
My running is a natural form of my movement,
An extension of walking,
Strengthening my heart,
Moving stagnant air,
Revitalizing my nervous system and increasing my capacity,
My capacity to be with others and my capacity to be on my own,
To develop a positive attitude and to naturally exercise my mind.
Today I dedicate to strengthen,
To reinvigorate and to cleanse,
To reach a long forgotten goodness that is deep inside of me,
Waiting to engage in movement and in breath.
Over time my intelligence and my memory of this become sharper.
I see the world from different perspectives.
I'm no longer imprisoned by so many emotional highs or lows,
But understand that they all balance.
For each joy there may also be a low,
For each exhilaration there may be some pain.
But I accept them and breathe through them realizing they are all part of life and my healthy practice.
Let's finish with a few more minutes of breathing.
You may end whenever you like focusing and breathing in,
Expanding the belly deeply,
Letting that air flow throughout our body and give all of our body revitalization and energy,
Breathing out through the nose,
Letting go.
Until next time,
Happy running.
