Running and Stress

Inspiration: To continue to honor the body temple.

There is so much hype and media on the benefits of consistent and sometimes ballistic exercise. What I mean by ballistic is an activity that requires a lot of energy and stresses the body. Running is a prime example. Depending upon your speed and gait pattern, the prolonged repetitive stresses can way on the body. The amount of good-feeling hormones that are released during activity, tend to leave the runner thinking and feeling this is a "awesome"!!

If you are a high-octane, stressed out individual, this is definitely not a good thing. Over time, your adrenal glands (responsible for handling our response to stress will burn out). Individuals have a tendency to combat this with more stress, caffeine, alcohol, unhealthy relationships. What needs to be taken into consideration is "How do you feel?". Not "What is the best way for me to burn off stress and calories". The body is a fine tuned machine. Although I cannot prove this fact, when we are happy, I feel our bodies metabolism is in a "FLOW". We eat what we need and we move how we need to.

What I scribe is through my own experiences. Having been a runner for many years, pushing beyond my comfort levels only to years later find the damage that my body has endured. Through cross training, yoga, proper nutrition and rest, I am finding my way back to equilibrium. This past weekend I ran for the first time in years and could really see and feel everything I tell my clients; running exhausts the body and creates inflexibility. So this needs to be taken into account.

As always, I continue to preach the healing benefits of yoga. Especially if you run, this is not only important, it is a necessity. After one day of running, I felt as if my hamstrings had two big tennis balls in the back of my legs. After a couple of classes since then, I am feeling much better.

So dear runners, although it may feel great, please honor your body by resting, stretching and playing.

Have a very "peaceful" day.

Warmly, Denise