A MIND FULL OF RUNNING

Run. Don't think about the report that has to be finished by Friday, the kids that have to be picked up from school, the idiot who drove behind you in this morning's school run, or the car that has to go in for a service. Don't even think about the next 10km. Just run. Experience it. Feel the muscles in your legs as they propel you forward, feel your feet hitting the road, your arms swinging, the air moving freely in and out of your lungs and the wind against your face. Allow your mind to fill up with these sensations whilst you truly experience the pure joy of running. This is mindfulness, and not only will it help you to appreciate life, it could also add so much more joy to your running, and even help to improve it.

by catharina robbertze

// Performance in sport is greatly influenced by athletes' ability to be mindful, to remain in the present and be centred, regardless of what is happening in the competitive situation.//

It has happened to all of us: we hastily pull on our running shoes, head out the door, run the same route, worry about what we still need to do at work tomorrow, and before we know it, we're back home, barely remembering much about a run that was supposed to add to our health benefits and even help us to de-stress! Weil, next time you head out the door, try to be mindful, try to run in the moment and you might just have one of the best runs of your life. Here's how.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

Mindfulness-based stress reduction is a widely researched anti-stress programme worldwide, and is a growing part of mainstream medicine, writes Karen Koch

EXERCISING mindfulness is not just another instant magic bullet or self-help fad for remnants of the flower power, hippy generation. It is a technique that is a growing part of mainstream medicine - with over 200 training units affiliated with medical centres and hospitals around the world.

Even the US army is said to be illness-based stress reduction to arm marines mentally against psychological strain and reduce the likelihood of post-traumatic disorder from combat duties.

But what exactly is it?

Since its introduction, mindfulness-based stress reduction has become one of the most widely researched stress reduction programmes worldwide.

It was developed by psychologists at the University of Massachusetts, Medical Centre in 1979. It is described as essentially a way of "paying attention, in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, with acceptance'', according to one of its founders, Dr Jon Kabat-Zinn.

The UCT Graduate School of Business has taken an unprecedented step and become one of the first business schools in the world to introduce mindfulness meditation as a part of one of its core programmes – the Executive MBA.

The Executive MBA (EMBA) is the only programme of its kind in South Africa and is targeted at senior and executive managers and leaders. The EMBA uses sophisticated learning techniques that are far removed from classic pedagogic methods, and the addition of mindfulness practice is another innovative step for the programme.