Running Therapy
Wait–running therapy?
Have you ever been overwhelmed and not known what to do next? Thrown on a pair of shoes and went out for a jog, only to do your best thinking of the day? Come up with solutions to what only a few minutes ago seemed like insurmountable challenges?
Why running?
Engaging in physical activity can cause endorphins and serotonin to be released in the body, improving mood. Running can cause blood circulation to increase in the brain, enhancing the brain’s cognitive functioning, including improved ability to respond to stress and problem-solving creativity. Chemicals released during and after running can improve sleep and emotion regulation. After a run, endocannabinoids are released that cause short-term feelings of calm.
Sometimes when we feel stuck (cognitively or emotionally), the best trick is to move your body so it can communicate openness and change to the brain. The mind and heart can then follow. Just by moving, you’re already engaging in behavioral activation, an effective treatment for depression and anxiety.
Plus, you get to do therapy in the natural, calming setting of Mount Tabor Park.
Disclaimer: I totally support the enthusiasm behind running. Running definitely helps me regulate my emotions and can be very therapeutic, but running is not therapy. I can offer you therapy while you are running. Running is the medium of delivery, not the therapy itself.