Iused to think that yoga was all I needed. I used to think that for me it ofer ed the ful l packag e of mental and physical wellbeing, saving me hours toning up at the gym and deinitely reducing the need for long boozy, complaining sessions with my girlfriends about the petty injustices of life. But yoga changes what I see and opens my eyes to all sorts of undreamed-of possibilities. So just recently I’ve done the unthinkable and taken up running.
Summer warmth always puts a spring in my step and the longer days tempt me outside into the fresh air. But running was never on the agenda – until all of a sudden it was! To give myself some motivation to get going, I downloaded the popular Couch To 5km app on my phone, and bought a proper pair of running shoes. The new trainers are great for supporting the foot I fractured last year (plus they’re vegan-friendly!). But the app – well, I didn’t ever try it. It turns out I’m not that bothered about a structured training programme. After all I’m not aiming for any marathon feats or tests of endurance. I’m simply taking pleasure in a diferent form of bodily movement, inding a pace and rhythm pr eviously r eserved onl y for sun sal utations. The br eath ill s my lungs and, as my arms and legs move more freely, my body somehow feels lighter and more energetic, and my brain settles into a less anxious mode, soothed by the rhythms of movement and breathing.