an exercise in mindfullness…

i ran exactly the amount my body told me to this weekend: zero. with the extra time on my hands i went to barnes & noble and found a neat book, which i bought: the wellness book. i love both the content and the format. it teaches you the concept of behavioral medicine, or mind/body connection, through simple explanations enriched with guided activities and personal stories. the workbook format provides structure, a way to keep track of your progress, enhanced ability to focus, and a sense of closure at the end of each chapter. so i decided to try a few exercises from the book, and chose to elicit the relaxation response during my run. i left the ipod at home. i wore my most comfortable running gear. while running i kept my focus on my breathing pattern, which is naturally three in/three out. i tried to maintain this focus throughout the whole run, while at the same time being strongly aware of my surroundings, the smells, sights, sounds, and simple things i don’t usually pay attention to while running. i kept myself in the present, bringing my mind back to the moment when it started to drift into the past or the future. i felt very relaxed and energetic after the run. it won’t be an everyday thing, as it takes a considerable effort to keep my mind from wandering. but i enjoyed the experience. next time i do it i’ll leave the watch home as well.