Readers of this blog might notice that I end each post with RMFR. Do you know what it means? You’ll have to dig deep within the archives to find the “true” meaning but it has become my “Runner’s Gang Sign” and I’m looking to add other runners to the club.

In your next race or photo opportunity, flash us your Runner’s Gang Sign and we’ll post it our RMFR Gallery with other esteemed members of our fraternity.

RMFR

Meditation is a whole new thing for me. I’ve never tried traditional meditation. Maybe it’s my lack of interest or my unwillingness to try but it’s never held much interest for me. Since reading “Running the Spiritual Path” by Roger D. Joslin, I’ve come to the conclusion that I’ve been practicing mediation for quite a while now – I just didn’t know it.

Have you ever been on a long run and come to realize you don’t recall the last mile or so you just ran? You checked out at some point and something pulled you back to reality. In most cases, your mind gets filled with thousands of trivial thoughts that occupy your time. It’s time to harness this “time” and use it as your “meditation time”. Here are a couple tools that may help you:

Chants and Mantras
These are words or phrases that you can repeat to the rhythm of your breath and/or stride. RMFR used to be my mantra of choice but that has been shuffled to my “Running Gang Sign” and it doesn’t fit my new spiritual path. Remember that you should find a chant or mantra that fits your breathing. Let your words develop naturally to your own running rhythm.

My chant that I started using to focus on my time with God running is “He Has Risen. Saved By Grace.” When I feel my focus wavering and I need to rechannel my thoughts to my breathing or the sound of my stride, I use this chant and it brings me right back to where my thoughts need to be.

Mudras
This is funny because I didn’t know it officially had a name. Mudra is loosely defined as hand movements that accompany dance, music, chants or mantras. I can explain this using my chant. When I say each syllable, I touch a finger with my thumb. I start by touching my index finger on down to my pinky (Risen is touched on the ring finger and then the pinky). For the second part of my chant, I proceed back up my fingers back to my index finger. When I start the chant again, I do it on the other hand.

It takes a little while to get used to it but after doing it for a couple of minutes, it will become second nature. There’s a lot going on but you’ll be amazed at how focused you’ll become.

Good luck and please share your chants, mantras and mudras.