Run Wild. Flow Free.
The birth of Cor•rer Retreats and the idea for the name of this blog happened while on self-retreat back in September 2021 (you can read more about it here). There’s a beautiful (re)discovery of self that happens when in nature and I am always grateful for those moments when I get to return to myself. This week’s blog post is dedicated to exploring what “Run Wild. Flow Free.” means to me and, spoiler alert, it means more than just running (“Run Wild.”) and yoga (“Flow Free.”). I see running and yoga as the tools I use to better connect to myself and tools to create empowered communities.
Run Wild.
Yes, “Run Wild.” refers to the running aspect of what I do as a person who runs, has a run coaching certification, and strives to inspire others to run. However, running wild is about a return to self on the run, off the run, and in between the runs. To run wild is to run toward that self that isn’t defined by what one does or the roles one holds in life. To run wild is to return to one’s true nature as a person deserving of joy and rest. There is running away from those things that stand in the way of your expansiveness and running in the direction of those things that empower and uplift you.
Through the physical act of running, we are reminded of our strength and our ability to endure challenging moments. This reminder becomes a part of who we are and is something that then bleeds into other aspects of our lives. The physical act of running pushes our limits and, at times, can break our hearts, but it also teaches us about our own resiliency and how we have everything within us to overcome and keep trying. This, again, is something that starts to come up in other parts of our lives. The tools we learn to make it through tough and hard runs are the same tools we use to make it through tough and hard moments off the run.
To “Run Wild.” is to bridge the gap between the physical act of running and the lessons learned on the run that help us show up fully and bravely to a life that will push the edges of our comfort zones.
Flow Free.
“Flow Free.” refers to the yoga aspect of what I do as a teacher, student, and practitioner of the practice (and all eight limbs.). To flow free is as much about tuning into the subtler parts of the physical experience through yoga asana (poses) and breathing practices as it is about freeing oneself from limiting beliefs that accompany the can’ts and shoulds of life. When one flows free, one is in alignment with one’s values and is charting a course through life based on what feels best. To flow free is to connect to the layers of self that give life its color. There is no playing it small or fear of taking up space when one flows free; you exist in all your glory and joy for others to see and to inspire others to do the same.
Why do you think there are poses in yoga with “warrior” in the name? Why do you think classes that incorporate elements of flow are so popular? It’s because we feel powerful when we move in ways that help us take up space, when we learn how to link breath to movement, and when we discover the power of the breath in helping us find comfort in the discomfort. On one level, this is what “Flow Free.” is about. On a deeper level, it’s about taking the lessons about showing up fully in the present moment and the power of the breath learned on the mat off the mat and into the world.
To “Flow Free.” is to remember who you were before the world told you who to be and to reconnect to that person through the practices of yoga.
“Run Wild. Flow Free.” It starts with movement that is a metaphor for the rest of life. If you can make it through a tough run and find a way to use your breath to settle the body, you can move through the experience of being a human with greater connection to self and greater ease. The movement is where we create space to be with ourselves. It is in that space where we run toward who we want to be with wild joy and we feel the heart-opening freedom of flowing into the next version of ourselves.
