We pray in church, before our
meals and on the eve of
surgeries. Some people pray
before they play bingo. But what about
praying when we exercise? Many people
find that praying during exercise is
the perfect place to contemplate, meditate
and clear their minds.
Scripture talks about both spiritual
and physical exercise. In 1 Timothy
4:7b-8, we hear, "Train yourself for
devotion, for, while physical training is
of limited value, devotion is valuable in
every respect, since it holds a promise
of life both for the present and for the
future."
I ask, why can’t we do both? After all,
the ideal is to pray always.
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 Integrating Prayer With Exercise
Prayer and exercise are a perfect fit. We
as Christians want to be good stewards
of creation, and our bodies are a major
part of that. When we exercise or work
out for our physical health, our spirituality
can be woven into any routine.
There is a need to find free time in order to exercise
strength and dexterity, endurance, and harmonious
movement, so as to attain or guarantee that
physical efficiency necessary to man’s
overall equilibrium.
—Pope John Paul II, "During the Time of the Jubilee:
The Face and Soul of Sports," October 28, 2000 |
Exercise brings a repetition and
rhythm that can complement prayer
perfectly. My friend Sister Sharon
breathes in and out using the "Jesus
Prayer." She inhales deeply to "Lord
Jesus Christ, son of the Living God,"
and exhales praying, "have mercy on
me, a sinner." She uses it when she
walks, and says it can also be shortened
to a simple "Jesus, mercy."
Many people work out on treadmills
or weight machines, and pray a simple
sentence like "Bless me, God, and all
my friends." I pray the Taizé refrain,
"Jesus, remember me when you come
into your Kingdom," as I do my daily
morning stretches. (Am I making a subliminal
connection to Good Friday,
which is associated with this hymn?)
Technological Help
Some people run or power walk, praying
short mantras like "Jesus, heal me!"
For those who like to start their exercise
with prayer, there is Pray-As-You-Go, a free daily meditation from Jesuit
Media Initiatives. It offers short (10- to
12-minute) meditations on the daily
readings, with bells or music, and can
be downloaded for music players or
played on a computer.
The Rosary Workout ranges from
beginner to advanced levels, along with
different amounts of Rosary prayer.
Author Peggy Bowes, a Catholic, graduated
from the U.S. Air Force Academy
in 1988 and served nine years as an
Air Force pilot and health and wellness
consultant.
Catholic Tradition
We have been called for years to exercise.
Many of us remember the physical
fitness trend that started in the
1960s with President John F. Kennedy.
Christians have always been challenged
to keep our bodies, our "temples
of the Holy Spirit" (see 1 Corinthians
6:19), in good order. Exercise can bring
many physical and psychological benefits.
When we add a layer of prayer, we
can benefit spiritually. Exercising is just
as important as taking our pills and
seeing our physicians. It is a healthy call
to be faithful stewards. Praying during
our workouts can be a powerful blend
of motor and faith skills.
I chuckle at what the philosopher
Michel Montaigne noted, "To strengthen
the mind, you must harden the
muscles." It seems to go with Scripture,
"Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians
5:17).
Sister Karen Zielinski,
O.S.F., was director of communications
for the Sisters of
St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio,
from 1991 to 2008. She is
now director of Canticle Studio, for products
which focus on spirituality and health. She
can be contacted at whollyhealthy@
AmericanCatholic.org. |
