RUNZEN's mindfulness for runners - module 1: foundations and focus

Why mindfulness for runners?

Running is one of the most popular forms of exercise in the UK with proven physical and mental health benefits, including helping prevent obesity, heart disease and high blood pressure, and boosting sleep quality and mood.

In recent years, there has also been a growing interest in mindfulness, with research linking a regular and sustained mindfulness practice with a decrease in the incidence of depression, anxiety and stress. It can also improve the ability to regulate our emotions, build resilience and help increase focus and attention.

Mindfulness for runners combines the benefits of both running and mindfulness into an integrated whole for more enjoyable runs and greater all round well-being whether on the cushion, on the trail or in everyday life. So, where to begin...

Module one – foundations and focus

"From autopilot to presence"

This half-day module designed by RUNZEN introduces participants to the key elements that help us bring a mindful awareness to the experience of the body and mind whilst running.

The module includes mindfulness meditations in stillness, gentle movement and running. We will guide you through a range of mindfulness practices before enjoying an easy-paced run around the nearby London Fields. The invitation for the whole day is simply to be curious about our experience, and each practice is followed by an opportunity to share as a group what we may have discovered.

The mindful running instruction has two components: the foundation and focus. To run with mindfulness requires that we establish and maintain a foundation based on good posture, relaxation and body awareness, which has the added benefit of injury prevention. We will then introduce how to apply a specific focus for mindful running.

Module one is an introduction to RUNZEN and mindfulness for runners, and will equip you with the basic tools and practices that you can then explore in running and life. Participants will receive a follow up email with supporting materials and will also then be able to participate in our free community runs throughout the year.

After completing module one and becoming familiar with the tools and practices in your running and life, participants are invited to complete module two - developing embodied presence

Past participant feedback

"Great experience and well designed content,
delivered in a thoughtful and sensitive way.”

“Restored a sense of joy to my running. Feel now i can just run for the joy of it and not be constantly beating myself up for not performing or doing as well as I think I should be.”

“I am very interested in connecting mind with body and this course provided an ideal opportunity to explore that interest. The experience of running with a different mindset and attitude was revealing.”

“RUNZEN is more than just about running. It guides to experience the joy of movement and stop being judgemental towards yourself. Very liberating sensation. The course is well structured and the instructors clearly are passionate about what they do. I would recommend it to anyone who likes running, irrelevant of the level they are at.”

“I will be reflecting more on my habitual ways of thinking and how this affects my experience. I am going to continue to try to apply the skills we learnt to running and life in general.”

Your RUNZEN instructors

Stuart and Cesare have many years combined experience in running, mindfulness meditation and professional training in coaching, mindfulness teaching and psychotherapy including with Bangor and Oxford University and Kent and Medway NHS. Through all this, they have learnt that the integration of mind-body awareness can improve mental health and running simultaneously for greater all-round well-being and are passionate about sharing this with you.

Location

For this half-day morning workshop we are delighted to be partnering with Fix London at their new Fix Studio in London Fields. In the afternoon, Fix is offering a three-hour yoga for runners session and you can book for both events at a reduced rate.

Personal investment

Module one is £30 for three hours. Or, you can attend the whole day and access both module one and the yoga for runners session for a reduced rate of £50.

Book your space

To secure your space, please visit Fix’s website here: https://www.fixlondon.co.uk/events/2019/2/10/run-zen-mindfulness-for-runners

Queries

If you have any questions at all about module one, then please do get in touch with us here or via email: runzen.contact@gmail.com

To find out more about RUNZEN please see our website here: RUNZEN.co.uk

We look forward to meeting you!