3072: The Zen of Running, and 10 Ways to Make It Work for You by Leo Babauta of Zen Habits

Optimal Health Daily - Fitness and Nutrition

Optimal Living Daily LLC

Fitness, Health & Fitness, Nutrition

4.4 • 671 Ratings

🗓️ 4 August 2025

⏱️ 10 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3072: Leo Babauta shares how running became a form of moving meditation, helping him find peace, clarity, and joy in simplicity. Discover ten mindful practices that can transform running from a chore into a deeply rewarding and sustainable habit. Quotes to ponder: "Running has become my sanctuary, my meditation, my escape, my therapy, my gym, my challenge, my time for contemplation." "Don’t worry about how fast or how far or how long, just run." "Focus on your breathing, your feet striking the ground, the rhythm of your steps, the motion of your body." Episode references: Hal Higdon’s Training Programs: https://www.halhigdon.com Couch to 5K: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/couch-to-5k-week-by-week/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	I spent all night on this presentation and it still looks so boring.
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0:17.0	Adobe Express, the quick and easy create-anything app, free.
0:24.5	This is Optimal Health Daily, the Zen of running, and 10 ways to make it work for you.
0:31.0	By Leo Babouda of zenhabits.net, and I'm Dr. Neal.
0:35.1	A very happy Monday to you, welcome back to Optimal Health Daily, the podcast
0:39.1	where health and fitness blogs are narrated to you for free. It's similar to an audiobook, but from
0:44.9	many different authors. And then on Fridays, I answer your questions right here on the show.
0:49.8	All right, let's start your week off right, get right to today's post, and start optimizing your life.
0:59.2	The Zen of Running and Ten Ways to Make It Work for You by Leo Babouda of Zenhabits.net.
1:07.4	Running is my Zazen. It's my meditation, my peaceful routine, my inner sanctum.
1:13.6	In Zen Buddhism, Zazen, which literally means seated meditation, is the central focus of the practice.
1:20.6	Depending on the school of Zen, Zazen is used to concentrate on koans, or to just sit and be present, experiencing things in the moment.
1:29.4	Of course, I'm not a Zen Buddhist, and I don't do much actual sitting meditation, sometimes,
1:34.2	but not often. But I do use running as my form of meditation, of trying to be present.
1:40.1	I actually use running for two purposes. One, concentration.
1:49.4	During this time, I try to focus on my breathing, on my feet as they strike the ground,
1:55.6	on how my body feels, on the sights and sounds and smells of nature around me, and on my thoughts as they occur.
1:57.1	I try not to think about the past and the future, but to try to remain in the moment.
	...

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