Why Exercise Isn't a Substitute for Meditation

I often hear people say “the gym is my meditation” or “I go running to clear my thoughts, that’s my meditation” . And while exercise can be a powerful tool for supporting our mental and physical health—reducing stress, boosting mood, and offering a sense of release—it’s not quite the same as meditation.

Exercise and meditation both positively affect our mind and body. A brisk walk can clear our head, a long run might quiet our thoughts, and yoga can leave us feeling more grounded. It makes sense that people often confuse these benefits with meditation. But the two practices are doing completely different things—and whilst both valuable, they are not interchangeable.

Many people assume that meditation is purely a mental practice – and that’s understandable, especially with terms like “mindfulness” and all the talk of observing thoughts. And while the mind is certainly a part of it, meditation also invites us into the heart. It connects us to our emotional body and supports a deeper alignment with our soul, helping us to live more fully and authentically.

Meditation is an intentional practice that involves our full awareness. It requires training our attention, and gently noticing thoughts, emotions, and feelings with curiosity. It’s about facing the painful parts of ourselves that we feel confused about, or the ones we’d prefer to distract from or ignore.

Meditation is about being with ourselves, not doing something. Whilst we can meditate in stillness, we can also practice meditation throughout our day, particularly when our mind and body are feeling loud, restless, or uncomfortable. It's about tuning into how we feel, not just what we’re thinking – and understanding how these feelings are contributing to the ways we react, behave, or show up in our day to day life. With meditation, intention is everything: to observe and be curious, not distract.  

While exercise may lead to a quieter mind and more relaxed body, meditation teaches us to be with the mind and body as it is—even when it’s not how we’d like it to be. It invites us to pause, not act, and face what we are feeling, rather than escape it or try to change it. Even though a workout may provide us with some form of emotional release, this is not the same thing as developing insight. This doesn’t lead to understanding ourselves more deeply, integrating fearful parts of our personality, or developing emotional comfort and regulation. Meditation builds a gateway to our heart and soul in ways physical activity alone can't replicate.

Because we’re all human, and navigating stress, anxiety, and trauma, is a part of life - this difference matters. Meditation helps build tolerance for discomfort, teaches us to regulate emotions, and gently reshapes how we relate to our inner world. It’s not about fixing or escaping feelings—it’s about becoming more present and comfortable with them.

If you’ve ever struggled to fully feel joy, excitement, or gratitude, you’re not alone—and there’s a reason for it. These uplifting emotions don’t exist in isolation. They’re part of the same emotional spectrum as sadness, grief, anger, and fear. When we avoid or numb the heavier feelings, we unintentionally dull the lighter ones too. The more we’re willing to sit with and truly feel our discomfort—the sadness, the fear, the heartbreak—the more access we gain to the full range of our emotional lives, including the most beautiful and life-affirming parts.

This doesn't mean exercise isn't part of health and healing. In fact, movement is often essential, especially for those who find stillness or awareness of their feelings overwhelming at first. But calling exercise “meditation” does a disservice to the deeper work that actual meditation offers.

By no means is this a takedown of exercise—it’s a reminder that both practices serve different, valuable purposes. When combined, they support not just physical, and mental health, but emotional and spiritual health too. Together, they invite us into a soul-level way of living—one that is deep, present, and fully alive.

If you liked this article, you might also enjoy:

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• Anxiety: How to Finally Heal

• 7 Signs That You Are Living in Survival Mode...and How to Flip The Script 

• 8 Tell-Tale Signs You Are Experiencing Chronic Anxiety…But Might Not Know It 

• 9 Amazing (and Unexpected) Reasons to Work on Ourselves 

• 7 Tips To Reduce Overthinking So You Can Release More Energy & Upgrade Your Life 

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Molly is a Holistic Counsellor & Meditation Therapist with a Masters in Counselling & Psychotherapy.. However, most of what she brings to the table is her personal human experience and dedication to self awareness, healing and growth. She is the founder of Mind Habitat which offers Holistic Counselling & Psychotherapy to humans who are looking to reduce suffering and access more freedom in their life. You can book a session with Molly here or visit the Mind Habitat homepage here.