Before I started my daily meditation practice in 2013, I used to be the person who would say, “I run and cycle, I don’t need to meditate”.
Damn, the 20 years ago Daren was very VERY wrong.
Here are the key differences between running (or insert your activity of choice) and meditation, and why they are both extremely valuable for you and your mental health.
Running is passive meditation: Passive meaning you aren’t really doing the thing.
Sitting still is active meditation: Active meaning you are actually doing the thing.
(There is a middle ground which I touch on at the end)
There’s something about running that just feels meditative. Maybe it’s the rhythmic nature of the movement, or the fact that you’re often alone with your thoughts. Whatever the reason, running can be a great way to get into a meditative state.
Sitting meditation is often seen as the opposite of running – it’s slow, passive, and requires you to be still. But in many ways, sitting meditation is actually more active than running. You’re not just letting your thoughts flow freely; you’re actively observing them and training your mind to focus back when it wanders.
So, which is better for mediation: running or sitting? I say both, as neither one is necessarily better than the other. It all depends on what your objective is, how you operate, and what works best for you.
I personally need both. If all else fails, I resort to a form of active meditation, also known as mindfulness, which involves simply observing everything that is happening both externally and internally. Thoughts, feelings, sensations, my environment, and so on.
If you find that running helps you clear your head and get into a meditative state, then go for it. But if sitting still is more your style, that’s perfectly fine too. Ultimately, the goal is to find a practice that works for you and helps you recenter yourself with awareness.
BTW – The goal of meditation is not to feel good. This is modern-day culture putting an optimistic slant on everything. Feeling good is a byproduct and happens when it does. You can’t force that, like you can’t force someone to love you; all you can do is be curious about them, care, and be your best self.
P.S. – Here’s a cool hack for a middle ground between meditation. Go for a very slow run or even a brisk walk, but do it mindfully. This means being as aware as possible of everything around you, without judgment.
Example – If I see an ugly building, I note everything about it but won’t express my opinion or feelings about it. I’ll just note that it has certain features that evoke a certain sense in me. Then I force myself to find something that I like about it or at least, that I think is interesting.
I do this with people, too. It’s a great exercise to be aware and not resort to immediate judgment. Just note it and move on.
