Prayer Running
I have always loved the outdoors and finding different paths to explore. I am an avid runner and find meaning through connecting my runs with God. As a student, I developed ‘Prayer Running,’ [PDF] a practice of connecting traditional prayers to exercise. The service is divided into equal parts praying and moving both one’s lips and limbs. Participants thank God for their bodies’ ability to function, to walk or run, and to feel nature around them. The group would walk or run in silence, allowing for moments of personal reflection. We came together for prayers and had communal moments of gratitude. These services gave me a way of connecting Judaism to my body, to the outdoors, and to others. I carry out a version of these services each time I go for a run—thanking God for the strength of my limbs, for the ability to rise, and for the ability to put one foot in front of the other.