Breaking Through The Wellness Noise: Running For Your Mental Health
Instagram trends, online fads and finding an exercise routine that’s uniquely yours …
“Admittedly, I am a total sucker for the latest wellness fad. Whether it’s a new fitness class, the latest superfood, or yet another clay mask, it will probably grab my attention. And yes, the money that I have spent on that trendy boutique gym over the past few years is much higher than I would like to admit.
But after scrolling through a blog post dedicated to health and wellness, a pop-up appeared on the website that said “These chic matching sets will actually improve your workout”. I shrugged it off - until I read the tagline underneath their grandiose claim: “I’m ready for my gym-mirror selfies!”
I realized that the majority of the articles didn’t seem to care about my well-being, but were mostly competing for the attention of my wallet, and also my ego. Now don’t get me wrong, I am fully supportive of certain trends that encourage people to take care of themselves, pursue lifestyle choices that allow them to manage their health, and take preventative measures against chronic disease. After all, shouldn’t we “secure our own mask first before helping others”? Sure, I skeptically jumped on the yoga bandwagon to find that it was deeply transformative for both my mind and my body, and I found that starting my day with lemon water as opposed to two cups of coffee has certainly improved my digestion, but I am still asking, why does this stress-reducing bubble-bath have to cost more than my rent?
“I run in the morning because I feel as if I start the day with a clean slate - I have physically released and “exhausted” the emotional and mental points of tension from the day before, and they seem to dissipate”
The wellness industry likes to convince us that living a balanced and healthy life is expensive, complicated and exclusive, but in my opinion, some of the most powerful wellness practices can not be added to a shopping cart. There are many activities that are almost immediately accessible to us that should play a part in our wellness routines; spending time in nature, creating something with our hands, and my personal favorite - running.
Running is not only an activity that has beneficial affects on our bodies, but is also capable of transforming our minds. It is one of the most primal forms of exercise - there is no need for fancy equipment or pricey memberships. When I run, I release control of my thoughts - which for me, someone who feels as if they always need to be in control - is such a liberating feeling. I let each thought wander into my mind. Whether it is a burst of confidence to embark on a new project, or the need to sprint through a mental pressure point that has arisen, I am in a much better place at the end of my run. No matter how loud my music is, I find that I enter into a state of meditation. Most importantly, whatever space I create in my mind while running is entirely mine. It is a time to observe my emotions, but also a time to entirely lose myself. One of my favourite writers, Haruki Murakami, writes on how he treats his runs as a cathartic experience in ‘What I Talk About When I Talk About Running’:
“When I’m criticized unjustly (from my viewpoint, at least), or when someone I’m sure will understand me doesn’t, I go running for a little longer than usual. By running longer it’s like I can physically exhaust that portion of my discontent.” He goes on to say, “I quietly absorb the things I’m able to, releasing them later, and in as changed a form as possible, as part of the story line in a novel.”
I run in the morning because I feel as if I start the day with a clean slate - I have physically released and “exhausted” the emotional and mental points of tension from the day before, and they seem to dissipate. I find that I am much more patient, present, receptive, and calm. If you have trouble sitting still and meditating, I would challenge you to give running a try. Whether you allow any and every thought to flow through your mind or choose a specific theme to meditate on during your run, observe how you feel in both your mind and your body throughout the day. Most importantly, find that activity that makes you feel at-home with yourself, and make it a part of your wellness routine.”
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You can read Gianna’s previous post on The Insecure Girls’ Club- ‘Body Obsessives: The Disconnect Between Aesthetics and The Joy Of Movement’ here or find her on Instagram @giannaetc.