Skip to main content

Running as Therapy

I thank God🙏for having given me the strength to run, the ability to think and the drive to improve. 

 

Running as Therapy 


For the body: I guess most recreational running starts as a way to physical fitness. The reasons may be different: wanting to lose weight, need to smarten up for an event, medical reasons such as high sugars or hypertension etc. The main goal is to improve your cardiovascular and physical conditioning. As a domino effect, one starts eating healthier, having more regular work hours, partying and drinking less, sleeping better...all resulting in a fitter you. Do remember, it isn't an instant fix and it does take a few months of persistent effort for the positive effect to be apparent. The end result: A healthier, better looking and happier YOU. 

 

For the mind: As running becomes a regular and you are comfortable with the physical aspect of it, your runs tend to become an exercise in mindfulness also. The cobwebs of the mind start clearing up, the mental fog lifts. While running, the stress and mental pressures ebb (for a while at least!). There is greater clarity of thought and while running you can actually plan your entire day, prioritize tasks and feel the pieces fall into place. The adrenaline rush and endorphin flow puts one in a positive state of mind, ready to conquer what come may. 

 

For the soul: With the body and mind all sorted out, one starts connecting to the inner self. The process of soul cleansing involves junking a lot of garbage that you have collected along life's way. Layer after layer is stripped away; you confront your real self and start becoming a better person. Out go the negativity, the jealousies, the conceit, the bloated ego and the superficiality. All because when you run with others, you learn to appreciate the goodness in them and try to emulate it. And when you run long and run alone, you have plenty of time to introspect and rectify your faults. Running also allows you to connect with and appreciate nature. Undoubtedly, it helps you connect to and acknowledge the 'Higher Power'. 

 

I hope running proves as therapeutic for you, as it has for me over the years.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Enough sleep, anyone?

One common myth, which I have almost convinced myself in my case too, is that you can acclimatize your mind and body to do with less sleep without any negative effects. As a doctor you pride yourself about this. However, as the years roll by and you listen to your body more and analyze yourself with detachment, one reaches the conclusion that you DO need MORE/ ENOUGH sleep. That gets us to the question of how much is enough sleep. The answer is pretty straightforward, no ifs and buts: 7-9 hours a day for ages 18-64 and 7-8 hours for age 65 years and above. And why: Because it is linked to your emotional, mental and physical health, quality of life and safety. Inadequate sleep leads to irritability, poor concentration, anger and depression. Sleep is important to process new information and remember it. Sleep deficiency is linked to higher incidence of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and strokes. Not to forget lower immunity, making you more prone to infections, especially virals. Sleep...
4 comments
Read more

Simple Joys

It's a battle between the Joy of Running and Joy of Achievement    Technology has 2 sides to the coin, doesn't it? No doubt it makes life easy and makes things possible that we could never have even dreamt about. On the flip side, it complicates our lives. We hardly realize, but the present world is a prisoner of technology. Take away all the technology for a couple of hours and we are at a total loss and panicking....the proverbial 'fish out of water', thrashing about and almost asphyxiating.    How does this rant have a connection with running? My humble submission: Recreational running was supposed to be all about unconditional fun, to enjoy; not worry about targets or goals, not be controlled by technology.  Let's face it: The vast majority of us are not even close to the elite level or international competition class. And the fancy shoes, sports watches, running apps and motivational talks are not going to get us there.  If you just want to be better t...
4 comments
Read more

‘Beat the Lockdown’ Run/ Walk

My apologies to the civic minded and upright, law abiding citizens 🙏 This post is neither a call to arms nor an instigation to break government-mandated lockdowns in this COVID19 pandemic. Rather it is kind of a survival guide for the running junkies (and indeed the hardcore morning walkers community too) who can't do without their daily fix  🤗 .  How best to get your fix without upsetting too many people or getting hauled up by the patrolling police. Here goes: 1.            Start real early in the morning 🌃 Preferably around 5 am, before dawn. Not many neighbors are up and about (and neither your family members!), so less people to castigate you 😝 . Running or walking incognito (hopefully!) in the receding darkness of the night lessens your guilt also 😜 . After the night's patrolling, the police waalas also tend to be at the nadir of their alertness and enthusiasm. What to say of the stray canines, they too deign that ti...
3 comments
Read more