I have been interested in mindfulness for a while and have enjoyed researching the topic and practising it. To me mindfulness is about slowing down and making the most of each moment of life by paying attention to my environment and what is happening now!!
As I have set my self a 6 weeks fitness challenge, I wanted to see how I could use minnfulness as part of it, especially at times when I get distracted. I searched the internet and below are some tips which I hope you too will find useful.
Tips to using mindfulness when you workout
To avoid distraction when you workouts, being mindful during exercise can relieve stress, make you feel good and even make your workouts better.
Have a Purpose for Each Workout
Having a purpose will give you something to focus on, something to work for and, therefore, something you can feel good about. Some examples of workout purpose are:
- To finish your planned workout
- To strengthen specific muscles (e.g., “I’m going to focus on working all the muscles in my lower body”)
- To challenge yourself (e.g., “I’m going to focus on working as hard as I can during my interval workout ” )
- To workout for a certain period of time or burn a certain number of calories
- To work on a specific area of fitness (e.g., “Today I’m doing cardio to burn calories and build endurance”)
Remember Why You’re Exercising
Reflect on why have you made exercise a priority and how will this workout help you right now. Some ideas:
- This workout will help me have more energy for my day
- I’ll feel really good about myself if I finish my workout
- I’ll sleep better tonight after this workout
- I deserve to take care of myself, and exercise is part of that
- I’ll feel much less stressed if I exercise
Slow Down
Remember, you set this time aside specifically for your workout, so give yourself permission to actually do it. Take your time with each activity, each movement, particularly strength training exercises. Focus on your form, on the upward motion and the downward motion. Think about your posture, your core, and the rest of your body, including the muscles you are targeting; focus on feeling them contract and relax. See just how much you can get out of your exercise time.
Remind Yourself To Breathe
Breathing is the simplest way to deal with stress and bring you into the current moment. If your mind wanders during your workout or you keep watching the clock, close your eyes and take a breath to bring yourself back to the moment. You’re exercising right now and that’s all you have to do. You’ll deal with the rest when it’s time.
End on a Good Note
Remember all the good things about the workout and how good it feels when you’re done. Give yourself time to cool down and take time to stretch the muscles you worked. If you can, take a moment to lie down at the end of the workout for a final relaxation, your chance to really feel the effects of your hard work. Pay attention to what you’re doing and how it feels. Notice what it is about that workout that makes you want a distraction from it. You may discover that changing how you exercise can inspire more mindfulness and more workout satisfaction.
Read full article here – https://www.verywellfit.com/mindfulness-during-exercise-1230998
Mindfulness in the gym
Confident Queen Genny 