Still Running: The Art of Meditation in Motion

Learn how to bring the power of stillness into your running practice with meditations, guidance, and inspiration from a long-time runner and Zen practitioner.

When we see running solely as exercise and focus on improving our times, covering a certain number of miles, or losing weight, we miss the deeper implications of this art. We miss the opportunity to take up running as a practice that bridges the apparent gap between stillness and movement, meditation and activity.

Moving away from the limited definition of running as fitness training, Vanessa Zuisei Goddard combines her decade of experience leading running retreats with her two-decade practice of Zen to offer insight, humor, and practical suggestions for grounding your running, or any physical practice, in meditation. Whether you are a new or experienced runner, you will learn how to be more embodied through thirteen running practices to help improve your focus and running form. Using mantras and visualizations, as well as a range of other exercises, Goddard offers ways to practice running as a moving meditation with an eye toward bringing the power of stillness to all the activities in your life. Ultimately, Still Running is a book about freedom, ease, and the joy of movement; it’s about the power of stillness and learning how to use that power to live wholeheartedly.