Yes, running can be yoga, too.
Can Running Be Considered Yoga?
I know what you’re thinking: How does running relate to yoga? I was actually wondering this myself for the past few weeks. My friend and I started the year off talking about how we had both stopped running towards the end of the year and wanted to get back into it. To hold each other accountable, we set a goal of running 30 miles in March. I was hesitant to commit to this goal because I wholeheartedly believe in intuitive exercise/movement and listening to your body rather than pushing it out of guilt. But I had been contemplating the concept of discipline around this time and decided that I wanted to remind myself of its importance. I knew I could complete this goal, and I wouldn’t be pushing my body to injury, so I agreed.
I started off strong the first week. Then I had to travel to California for 10 days to help my family while my dad was in the hospital, and I only got one (very short) run in during that time. Once I’d returned home, I had 13 days and 21 miles left, and running sounded very unappealing after my break. I thought about texting my friend that I wasn’t going to complete the goal multiple times during the next two weeks, but I never did. I kept getting up in the morning, drinking tea and eating toast, and going for runs.
A Series of Events (“Unfortunate” Is Subjective)
Soon it was March 31st, the last day of the month, and I had 3.5 miles to go. A short, easy one, it was supposed to be. I had it in my head that I was going to end on a high, and a great, smooth run.
In reality, I woke up the morning of and realized I had forgotten to do the laundry so I couldn’t wear my only good pair of running shorts, which meant I’d have to put my phone in my bra (something I don’t like doing and I know isn’t good for me). I let my disappointment go, though, put on another pair of shorts, grabbed my AirPods, and went outside.
I couldn’t decide on what music I wanted to listen to. It was one of those days where every song instantly annoyed me. But running in silence was not an option; music is the only thing that gets me through the torture. So I picked an instrumental mix to rule out the possibility of annoyance over stupid lyrics.
Halfway into minute 9, my left AirPod died. “Of course!” was my initial reaction. I wanted to stop right then and there. Instead, though, I interrupted that thought. Didn’t I just realize that no music was appealing to me today? And then my AirPod died? I could’ve continued to be frustrated over this and miserable for the rest of the run, but I took it as a sign that I wasn’t meant to listen to music on this run, so I took both AirPods out.
It was a fully sunny day in Waikiki, the first one in what felt like a long time amidst this rainy and windy winter (it’s only been 75, wah). Not long into the run, I started to resent the sun for shining because of how much I was sweating, and I was irritated that I had only worn a sports bra and not a tank top so I had nothing to wipe my face off with. I still had 25 minutes left of this run, I reminded myself, so I again tried to interrupt that thought. Just that morning, I had sat on my balcony sipping my tea and journaling about how happy I was to see the sun.
3 Yogic Lessons I Learned From Running
Even with what felt like all odds against me, I continued on my sweaty and silent run, until I had only half a mile to go. Tired as I was, I decided to put my one still-working AirPod back in and play a motivational song to finish strong. I picked “Goodness of God” by CeCe Winans (the live version, obviously) and picked up the pace. Within those next few minutes, I appreciated how I had not only kept going, but had been able to stop the cycle of negative thoughts during a time when it felt like everything was going “wrong.”
1. You Can Let Go of "Should"
I was reminded that what I consider “wrong” is only so because of the identity I have in my head about myself and the world—how things should be and what I like and dislike.
When my favorite shorts weren’t clean, I felt irritated and I had the thought “I don’t like running in any other shorts,” which led to “This run is going to be terrible if I’m not wearing those shorts.” When my AirPod died, I felt irritated and had the thought, “I don’t like running without music,” which led to, “I can’t finish this run in silence.” When my sweat was dripping into my eyes and burning, I had the thought, “I don’t like this feeling,” which led to “I can’t keep running without wiping my sweat.”
I thought all these things should've been a certain way, so I reacted negatively when they didn't turn out that way. In reality, there is no such thing as should.
2. It Just Is
Instead of allowing my preferences (my attachment to certain feelings and avoidance of others, or raga and dvesha in yogic philosophy) to dictate my mood by creating running storylines in my head, I interrupted those thoughts and told myself “This is just what is.” My favorite shorts weren’t clean. That was it. My AirPod died. That was that. I was sweating. I was. It just was. It just is.
Repeating this thought to myself helps me see things as they are in reality, without needed to react to them because of my conditioned thought patterns.
3. Discipline Translates
That is always the case. I noticed, throughout this month of practicing discipline by achieving my running goal, that I was better able to be disciplined in other ways, as well. I was disciplined with my yoga practice, in “smaller” ways than doing hours of asana every day—different ways, I should say.
Each time I ran, I had to interrupt the thoughts that would prevent me from getting out the door. During the run, I had to interrupt the thoughts that would stop me from continuing. Because of this, each time I was presented with a task that I “don’t like,” I could interrupt those thoughts before I either ignored the task or became irritated that I had to do it, and just do it (yes, I’m talking about refilling the Brita).
Every Moment Is a Chance to Practice
We have the ability to interrupt thoughts and undo the conditioned patterns of our minds, which can change our perspective on the world, and, in turn, change our lives. Yoga is a path, of which discipline is an important part, that we practice in every moment, not just while in postures on a mat. Running can also be yoga, if you choose to practice during it.
Also, my Nike Run Club app announced “Congratulations! You’ve finished your run,” exactly as CeCe finished singing, so I’d say I did end up ending strong.
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