Mindfulness has a lot of proven health benefits. As such, many people incorporate it with other healthy pursuits to boost their well-being. For instance, many runners enjoy mindful running to improve their form and reap the maximum benefits of this activity. The best part is that adding mindfulness to your routine is simple and easy. To give you a better view, here are some tips to become a mindful runner.
Run Outdoors
The first tip to become a mindful runner is to take it outdoors. The reason is that you’ll have more opportunities to focus and stimulate your senses when you’re outside. For instance, you can enjoy the feeling as the wind blows against your body. Aside from that, you can also appreciate the beauty of your surrounding when your jog outside.
Engage All Your Senses
One of the best tips to become a mindful runner is to use all your senses. Nowadays, many runners listen to music when running. However, this habit may distract you from focusing on the moment. Instead, you can leave your headphones and focus on the sound of nature. Aside from that, you can also focus on physical sensations, such as the impact of your feet on the ground. The more you observe your movement, the more you can run efficiently. It all starts with engaging your senses.
Pay Attention to Your Thoughts
After observing your physical sensations, you can move on to your thoughts and emotions. You can observe the conversations in your mind. Are you thinking of your worries while running? From there, you can acknowledge these feelings and thoughts; however, you don’t have to dwell on them. Instead, you can bring back your attention to your breathing or surrounding. From there, you can calm your mind and focus on the present moment.
Reflect
Finally, the last on this list of tips to become a mindful runner is to reflect at the end of your run. While doing some cool-down exercises or stretches, you can observe your heartbeat as it slows down or your body as it cools down. From there, you can reflect on your thoughts and feelings. Are you happy or disappointed after your run? From there, you can write your observations. After sometime, you can assess if your emotional or physical responses have changed. Finally, you should always end your run with a positive attitude.
Key Takeaway
Running can offer numerous health benefits, especially for your heart. When you add mindfulness, you can run more efficiently. After all, you will be able to improve your form and movements when you focus and observe them while running. The best part is that mindfulness also allows you to enjoy your surroundings, making the activity less tiresome.
