As part of our natural health series, we introduce our second guest: Grahak Cunningham, ultra-runner and motivational speaker.
Grahak inspires others through his actions, and here deepens our wisdom with his words. Sharing insights on inner peace, making use of natures tempering ambience as a means of meditation.
We have all come home from a run and felt the benefits, both physical and mental of a run. Sweating out the problems of the day, we can feel pleased with ourselves and leave the worries and problems of everyday life behind. Something about it invokes a clarity in our mind and hearts. So what is the connection between heading outdoors for a run and feeling good, between the physical and the spiritual?
Firstly let’s look at situations where things aren’t going well. Think back to a time when you have been lying in bed unable to sleep. An endless stream of meaningless banter and thoughts make you agitated and restless. As a result you toss and turn and cannot rest. The mind will do this 24/7 unless you learn to invoke silence, to access a deeper part of yourself. It is the same when running, any doubts or negativities directly affect our mood and performance.
I went for a jog the other day and just couldn’t get in the zone. There was no flow. I got every single traffic light on the way to the trails, everything ached and I wanted to walk. Mentally I kept telling myself how torturous this particular run was and the best thing about it was finishing. It happens to us all. When we hit the wall our bodies have reached tipping point and our minds will chime in with it’s It two cents worth. It’s funny though, most of us will keep going with the task at hand. It would be much simpler to quit, easier to catch a bus home and sit on the couch, but we don’t. Something inside us won’t give up and we keep moving forward trying to reach the goal.
To do well in sport (or anything for that matter) you need focus, clarity and concentration; skills that can be learnt through formal practice. “Only with positive thoughts,” says ultra-runner Sri Chinmoy, who was perhaps the most famous exponent of combining meditation with exercise, “can we bring light into our mind-cave.”
The beauty about distance running is in its simplicity. It forces you to be focused and positive. If your thoughts intrude it is very noticeable and you have a tough run, as I did.
Fortunately the majority of times we motivate ourselves to get outside for a run, we have positive experiences. The fresh air, the repetitive movement and regular breathing helps induce a calm and reflective mind and allows us to be more in our hearts. We are outdoors, under the vast sky, with the earth under our feet. Connecting with nature brings with it inner peace and a positive meditative power. I have been 2000 kilometres into an ultra and sometimes felt like I had the strength of ten men coursing through my body.
If you have never tried meditation formally it is probably not that foreign to you. Everyone has done it sometime or another. Being under a canopy of stars, the simple smile of a child, the immensity of the ocean, the power of a mountain, they stir something inside us and make us feel uplifted. It is the same with distance running. It is strenuous exercise but it’s certainly possible to maintain clarity and peace while participating or competing. Nature helps carry you. Your mind and body feel purified. Running longer distances pushes us to take that extra step, to move forward despite obstacles, to transcend ourselves, to make progress. In general the further or faster you go, the deeper you have to dig.
It makes sense to combine meditation and sport on a more formal level. Many great sportsmen talk about moments of absolute conviction before a major victory or event. They feel at peace with the race, game or task ahead. Nothing is forced and as a result, victory or achievement just flows. Professional golfers have outstanding visualisation skills. Tennis players have fantastic concentration, just watch them about to receive serve. Nine time Olympic track and field gold medallist Carl Lewis meditated before his big events. “I would just go quiet and try to listen for the farthest sound away…just having my peace, where it all stops and you’re just aware of where you need to be,” he once commented. “Every record I set, I knew it was a record because it was the easiest race I ran.”
Running is a vehicle for self-improvement. When you can get outdoors for a run, your outlook on the entire day gets better. When you mix it with meditation your whole outlook on life improves.
A Relaxation Exercise
* Do this exercise sitting upright in a chair
* It is advisable to practice with your eyes open so when you get proficient you can use it while running, at work or exercising.
* Chose a quality like peace.
* Breathe in this quality into the mind and body, relaxing all your muscles.
* Breathe out the opposite, in this case anything that takes away your peace such as stress, restlessness and intruding thoughts.
* Try the same thing while exercising and try other positive qualities such as power, joy or strength.
* Practice every morning and join a regular meditation group for maximum benefits. There are plenty of free classes and groups around.
From outdoor pursuits to boardroom disputes, Grahak’s wisdoms can help motive you. To learn more visit: www.grahakcunningham.com
