Running the Spiritual Path: A Runner's Guide to Breathing, Meditating, and Exploring the Prayerful Dimension of the Sport

by Roger Joslin

Running the Spiritual Path is Roger D. Joslin's compelling and inspiring guide to making running a spiritual sport.

Imagine achieving physical fitness and spiritual growth simultaneously. Roger Joslin's step by step program is an engaging exploration of his conviction that spiritual well being is as likely to happen while running along the trails of a favorite park as it is within the more traditional settings of neighborhood churches, synagogues, or mosques. Through awareness, chants and visualization, and through attention to the most evident aspects of the present moment--the weather, pain, or breathing--the simple run can become the basis for a profound spiritual practice.

In Running the Spiritual Path Roger D. Joslin combines the insights gathered from thirty years of running, with a personal spiritual journey that is guiding him to the priesthood. While drawing from and exhibiting an abiding respect for the traditions and sacred practices of the world's great religions, the author describes a heretofore-unexplored method of sacred running, of bringing meditation and a prayerful communion to the running trail.

Genres: Spirituality, Prayer, Fitness

272 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2004

Reviews

[Chris Abraham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really feel like he's an Ascended Master when it comes to his life, though he's no pushover. He tough, he self-aware, he is a little judgy of other people with a lower drive and less commitment, but he also knows he's an outlier par excellence.

Read the book for inspiration and wisdom instead of for motivation because he's so over-the-top that, unless you're already an elite runner (I'm not at all), you might just get frustrated.

I highly recommend this book. It's more philosophy than a how-to.

[Brigid Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very tempted to give this book a 5 star and wish there was an option for 4.5. Despite being a bit dated, I loved how this book incorporated various faith traditions in discussions of spirituality and provided very practical examples of how to go on spiritually focused runs. Read this one again later!!!

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Kelly Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who loves to run and have often used running as a way to connect with God through prayer and my random thoughts, I was excited to read this book in hopes of connecting with somone who shared this same passion. After reading this book I realized that I either do not take the "sacredness" of running seriously enough or Mr. Joslin takes it much more seriously than I. I personally don't believe every single run has to lead to some unique encounter with God even though it's nice when it does. Sometimes it's nice to just run, clear the mind, relieve some stress and enjoy good ol rock'n'roll. I agree with many of the other commenters in that Mr. Joslin's book was not well organized, but if you are willing to view this book as a treasure hunt, you will not be that disappointed in the random nuggets you find along the way.

[Gretchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the most cogent prose, but a good junk drawer full of spirituality of running treasures, if you're willing to root around among the figurative old bottle caps and too short pencils. I have picked up a few good running and prayer-while-running techniques from this book, but he gets a bit full of himself and sometimes I read a paragraph and say afterwards, "Hunh?"

Definitely a book to read to get you to think about the spiritual possibilities in running. For me, the two best concepts I have incorporated in my own running are attention to breath and using a prayer mantra or chant. I recall doing this with the prayers of the rosary when I was 19 and on a silent, month-long retreat. Turns out it's an effective technique for me and Joslin reminded me of that.

[patricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

so far it's been an easy read, and i'm eager to try out the breathing and focusing techniques to see if they improve either the speed or quality of my runs. obviously the book is very god heavy, but he pulls from all the major religions for his mantras and meditation techniques, so it feels more scholarly than priestly.

[Kelly B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've tried numerous times to enjoy running, and truthfully I probably will never truly enjoy it. This book does introduce a spiritual approach to running which is inspiring, and I'll try to apply some of the methods mentioned in the book.

[MaryAddison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not running now, but when I was, this was a good read.

[Jud Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intersting subject but not well organized. Mainly a random collection of the author's personal journal entries...

[Susan Zizza Maguire · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author's full of himself, frankly, but I loved the inspirational quoted that kicked off each narcissistic chapter.