CE On Time

Combining Exercise and Prayer

June 24th, 2007 by Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur Print This Article Print This Article ·

I love to move when I pray. In fact, I find it very hard to concentrate if I am not moving. When I say my morning prayers, I pace around my kitchen island. I often say a Rosary while I go out on my daily walk. I find if I am moving, I get less distracted. It seems like by keeping my mind busy doing two things (praying and exercising), it feels less of a need to wander to other places.

 

Exercise and Prayer are a perfect combination, especially if you exercise alone. You get to work on the health of your body and the health of your soul at the same time. What could be better than that?

 

For more information on integrating Sport and Spirituality check out
Spirituality of Sport by Susan Saint Sing, Ph.D.

reviewed by CE on Time's very own Lisa Hendey.



  • Guest

    Susan's book remains one of my favorites on this topic. Another great one is Meditation in Motion: Exercise Your Body and Your Soul – At Same Time by Barbara Bartocci from Ave Maria Press.

  • Guest

    Interesting post — I take a spinning class at our local gym, and last week found myself praying while spinning.  It just happened spontaneously, and helped me make it through the class — it's a killer! Laughing  Been away from exercise for a long time, shame on me — anyway, I also pray for perserverance, since I have a mile-long lazy streak Embarassed, a bit like Garfield!  Our instructor chooses the music for the class, and sometimes I pray about the lyrics, which are often pretty raunchy.  At one point, she apologized for this, and I wondered, why the heck are you playing this trash?  I prayed instead!  Good luck with your exercise, Ms. MacArthur!