RUNNING + YOGA = WELLBEING

It has long been recognised that both running and yoga have significant effects on our physical, mental and emotional health. Enhanced emotional wellbeing increases our productivity, self-esteem and resilience, and improves our running performance. Conversely, poor emotional wellbeing can contribute to stress, depression, anxiety, insomnia and lack of energy.

Here are some simple techniques that we can incorporate into our running and our yoga practice to help support our emotional wellbeing.

Being in the present moment (mindfulness)

Past events have already gone and the future is yet to happen (Mipham, 2013). When we are in the present, we are in control of our lives and our running, choosing the direction we want to take and then steering ourselves towards that course. Both running and yoga provide ample opportunities to bring ourselves into the present moment. Focusing on the breath is particularly effective in this regard. Our