Do you combine devotions with exercise?
grassette
Posts: 976 Member
I was reading at Catholic Digest article some time ago where a woman was describing her walks, where she says her rosary. Recently I've taken to my treadmill regularly at 3:00 pm when ETWN has on the Divine Mercy Litany followed by the Rosary with a little talk by a Franciscan in between.
Do you pray and exercise at the same time? If not, what is your favorite devotion?
Do you pray and exercise at the same time? If not, what is your favorite devotion?
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I used to say the rosary while running, but not so much any more.0
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I pray while walking all the time. We work out at a YMCA, so I also get to listen to Christian music!0
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When I started to exercise in the last couple of years, I felt that exercise was extremely banal. I'm reminded by something Fr. Giussani says in The Risk of Education: "to walk without direction is perceived as a waste of time by a lively and vibrant mind." So, I started by walking 15 or 20 minutes at a time, praying the Rosary (or other prayers), and begging for life, more life. When I was in college, there was a Jesuit who would walk around the Quad saying his Rosary.
Now, I'm walking 60-80 minutes a day, and I really treasure the silence, the opportunity to reflect on the events of the day and to listen to the world around me. Lately, I've been listening to Fr. Seraphim Beshoner's history podcasts— something else I have difficulty making time for (http://catholicunderthehood.com/)…0 -
My favorite devotion will always be Mary's rosary, I say it in English and Italian. I love to spend my mornings with Mary and Jesus with a cup of coffee. Walking outside I usually meditate on the beauty of God's green earth, and thank God for what he's done for me in my life, sometimes I have said the rosary but it's harder to concentrate on the rosary when I walk outside. On the treadmill at the gym it's so noisy I can't even hear myself think let alone pray...unless I pray for quiet. (TV, rock music piped in, aerobic room music all combined). Yup, coffee in the morning with Mary and Jesus is the best especially when sitting on my outside porch.0
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Where did you go to college? I work at a Jesuit high school and we have a beautiful quad here! My oldest son attended Loyola University of Chicago and I have a sophomore at Marquette now.When I was in college, there was a Jesuit who would walk around the Quad saying his Rosary.0 -
Praying while exercising gets us pretty close to St Paul when he said that we must pray without ceasing.0
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macpatti: I did Rockhurst in Kansas City for undergrad, and Fordham in NYC for my MA in English. While at Fordham, I had an Ignatian retreat with Fr. Koterski (at the Shrine of the North American Martyrs in Auriesville), which was very helpful.0
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When I am at the gym on the treadmill, I listen to an audio Bible. I am listening to it in chronological order. I'm going to check out the podcast mentioned by an earlier poster for something different.0
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When I walk in our neighborhood I pray the Our Father, Hail Mary & Glory Be continuously until I get home. :happy: We also have a track around the soccer complex outside near our house and I usually do the same thing when I walk around there but it's only when I'm by myself.0
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oddly, some mornings i listen to divine office morning prayer while on the ebike...0
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oddly, some mornings i listen to divine office morning prayer while on the ebike...
What a great idea!0 -
When I am at the gym on the treadmill, I listen to an audio Bible. I am listening to it in chronological order. I'm going to check out the podcast mentioned by an earlier poster for something different.
[/ interesting.. who knew the made an audio biblequote]0 -
I like to walk outdoors for exercise - I use the time to converse with God - sorta like a walking partner
Sometimes I talk to my Dad who is now in Heaven as well.
I've always liked journaling on paper, putting down thoughts and feelings. Now I just do it mentally and sometimes even audibly
Sometimes I just let my mind wander or almost go blank, which is somewhat like meditation.
There's just nothing as relaxing as a nice long walk - I find it a great stress reliever!0 -
When I walk the treadmill I like to do my Rosary and Divine Mercy chaplet, then some personal prayers and maybe a St. Michael prayer and a Memoriarie. It really makes a half hour go fast.0
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Hadn't thought about it much, but since I recently started lifting heavy, the rest periods between sets would be an excellent time to get some prayer time in and unite my suffering, however self imposed, to Christ. I think I'll start doing that.0
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Hadn't thought about it much, but since I recently started lifting heavy, the rest periods between sets would be an excellent time to get some prayer time in and unite my suffering, however self imposed, to Christ. I think I'll start doing that.
Salt and Light recently had a program where you could meditate on the Passion of Christ while weight lifting in a serious manner. And there is prayer between the sets to time out your rests. Check out The Catholic Workout here: http://saltandlighttv.org/blog/general/working-out-in-the-new-year0 -
I like to do Stations of the Cross while I walk the dogs. I walk to a corner, stop and pray a station.0
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on an additional note. do you pray when you cook? My mother never baked anything without checking what was in the oven and murmuring, "aren't they beautiful? God bless them." Pizzelles take one Hail Mary ( depending on the iron) and so does breaded calimari- at least to get them nice and tender.0
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When I do my couch to 5k workout on the treadmill I listen to an mp3 recording of the chaplet of Saint Michael.0
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What a great idea - God Bless you - Keep up the good work (and praying):happy:0
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yes when i am swimming i do there 3 hail mary then go into Our Father, Hail Mary & Glory Be and pray for everybody that ask me to pray for them i think devotion and exrcise go hand in hand0
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I listen to the Divine Mercy and the Rosary while I run.
This is a great post with links to various apps. I have my itouch set to ring at 10, 12, and 3 with these various prayers.
http://www.elizabethfoss.com/reallearning/2012/04/how-to-give-up-coffee-and-add-more-hours-to-your-day.html0 -
What a lovely idea!0
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Thanks for the link - I"ve subscribed on my Google Reader.0
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I may start combining devotion with my outdoor runs. I listen to Christian music while running.0
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"Everything I Know About Prayer I Relearned in Spin Class" was written by a Jesuit. He has a number of observations. Find it at: http://thejesuitpost.org/site/2012/04/everything-i-know-about-prayer-i-relearned-in-spin-class/
"For those of you who don’t know, peeking into a spin class entails seeing a room full of sweaty people pedaling away atop stationary bicycles while rocking out to pop music and listening to an instructor with way too much energy somehow still manage to yell orders like a Prussian drill sergeant. All while cycling at 120 RPM.
It’s pretty much awesome. It also has a striking number of parallels with the spiritual life.
That’s not to say that it’s easy to pray immediately after spin class (especially when I can’t get Rihanna out of my head), but I have relearned a lot about prayer through my experience atop an exercise bike. In honor of the greatest #11 of all time, Sparky Anderson (sorry Isiah, but what you did to the Knicks disqualifies you), here are the top 11 prayer lessons I’ve relearned by spinning:..."
See link for more!0 -
http://praisemoves.com/about-us/what-a-class-looks-like/
Looks like the Baptists are into prayerful exercise too!0 -
For those of you who like podcasts I highly recommend www.salvationhistory.com. they have bible studies available as free podcasts. This is Scott hahns institute of biblical theology...amazing!:happy:0
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I haven't exercised regularly recently because I was uncomfortably pregnant. I plan to get back to it now. When I was at the gym I would say rosary and/or Divine Mercy chaplet while on treadmill. I found when I was praying for a particular intention I'd increase the
intensity of my work out. I often pray "have mercy on "name" and on the whole world" placing a specific person into the decade of the Chaplet instead of "have mercy on us".0 -
A Jesuit describes what he learned about prayer in spinning class!
http://thejesuitpost.org/site/2012/04/everything-i-know-about-prayer-i-relearned-in-spin-class/0
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