Jogging can be great exercise. Many people would admit that. But jogging could also be a great reliever of stress. This I am saying from my true experience that I enjoyed every moment of it during my teenage days till college days. Somehow, that total movements of legs and arms did bring about a still condition of thoughts, which I realize and synthesize today as a great reliever of stress.
When did I discover this?
I used to be a middle and long distance runner. Cross country race was my favorite. The intention to win prizes was there. However, usually being too confident about becoming the champion, it was never a struggle till the finishing line. Neither, there existed any threat of the competitors.
So it wasn’t much of a competitive situation, that during the runs, I somewhat now could recall those exhilarating moments. These moments I believe could have resulted from my love for running. But love is the exception as many people run and unwind themselves.
So, what could be the secret?
I caught up with running within six months or so and joined the competitions. The track and field became competitive that I trained hard. But the enjoyment or ecstasy did not result from the competitive sports. Instead it was the cross country. Running along the country, passing villages, gardens and peace loving inhabitants of village houses brought about this magic and soothing feeling.
So what am I really arriving at?
When I ran those cross-country races, even though it was fast, the terrains, those unleveled grounds enabled me to make full use of my limbs to run. And the whole awareness of running became more prominent when you pass through that nature of trees, springs, undergrowths, drains and not forgetting the cooing birds.
So I persisted in those long distance races just to get those satisfying moments. And I came to realize that it is indeed a means to get rid of your stress, which lingers on everyone in today’s modern world.
Jogging, a beneficial exercise
Therefore, the reminder is, don’t run like a professional. Run and have a lot of motion of swinging your arms and striding your legs. Don’t let that awareness of the body slip your consciousness. Once tired, just sit under a tree and feel the warmth of the grass and the earth and embrace the earth forces.
This is indeed an easy exercise compared to many other exercises and the right contemplation can bring in more benefits. Slowly, your thoughts will start disappearing one by one and you have come to attain that refreshing, thoughtless moment. You become less angry and those anxieties and fear begin to reduce. However, the moment the running become mechanical, then it shall not be beneficial to you any more. Drop it and move on to other methods such as swimming or dancing.
Unity of Thoughts 