Mind It

by Michelle Sutton-Kerchner

Mindfulness isn’t complex or difficult. It is simply being more aware of every day moments and movements. And that awareness helps us live more fully …

From stressful tasks to high-impact workouts, there is a mindfulness approach to make life more effective. A mind anchored in the present will sail far.

A fitness routine cultivated by mindfulness can improve results and help you stay committed. Before you tackle your workout, warm up your mind. Be aware of your journey, where you have traveled and where you are going. Performance will be enhanced, both on the Exercise Floor and beyond the Center’s walls. Use your workout as an escape from the world, not yourself. Quiet the distractions and observe where you truly can go.

Improve Your Way of Being

Stephanie D’Angelo, yoga instructor and mindfulness workshop facilitator, provides an analogy: Working out without being present in the body and mind is like exercising on a treadmill without resistance. She explains, “To create improved health, including a better overall workout, bring awareness to your thoughts and your physical being. This awareness allows the mind to better focus on achieving results from your workout.”

Try This:

As you exercise, focus on exhausting your body in a positive way.

1. Concentrate on helping your body grow, heal, and strengthen. Ask a trainer or instructor to explain the specific mechanics of your routine. Understand which areas of the body you are working, down to the cellular level. Be aware of what you are accomplishing with each move.
2. Live each stretching, burning, and strengthening movement. In amazement, recognize all your body can perform.
3. Appreciate wherever you are at the moment. It is your place in the universe as well as among your surroundings, whether the Fitness Floor, pool, or studio.
4. Inhale and exhale in rhythm with your motions. A personal trainer or fitness instructor can advise on the best breathing method for performing reps and other exercises. A simple function like how you breathe makes a difference in your results.
5. Envision a lean, healthy, happy body with each breath.

This mindful approach to exercise leads to contentment and an overall better fitness experience. Research has proven those who exercise mindfully are more satisfied with their workouts. In turn, they are more aware of the pleasure and benefits gained from exercise, which motivates them to remain committed to fitness.

Reflection

Stephanie shares, “By listening to your body and cultivating a sense of awareness, you can live in the present moment with the opportunity to experience less stress. You may learn more about the unconscious motives that drive you. This can provide your unique key to wellness.” She notes post-workout mindfulness meditation is an excellent time for this growth.

Once you accomplish all your amazing work, reflect. Upon completing a task, Stephanie suggests spending a few quiet moments, focused on breathing and simply being present. “Become familiar with the nature of your mind. Embrace it. Accept the victories and challenges; this cultivates the self-compassion that creates resilience. Determine ways to complement your efforts, whether on the Fitness Floor, in the office, or at home.”

Feel Better, Be Better

It may feel awkward to give attention to the ordinary. The stretch of your muscles during Pilates. The sensation of a warm bath. The sound of our loved one’s voice. However, these observed every day moments provide an inner source of positive energy.

Modern science has proven the benefits of mindful awareness long-known by ancient practitioners. It can improve mental and physical health. Those with mindfulness tendencies are about 86 percent more likely to have good heart health, perhaps by its usefulness in reducing stress, anxiety, depression, high-blood pressure, and other issues. Mindfulness also improves focus and concentration. It nurtures relationships, too.

Fun fact: Want to be more attractive to the opposite sex? A speed-dating study showed men who displayed mindful dispositions were rated as more attractive by women on first encounters. Now that’s something to be aware of!

The Center provides the latest exercise equipment and amenities, the hottest fitness classes, and superior programs to improve your health and well-being. On a larger scale, the world is yours to own. To maximize all life has to offer, be ready to fully engage your body as well as your mind.

Sources

The Power of Mindfulness, spring 2018, special edition reprint; Centennial Health™.

“To Jump-Start Your Exercise Routine, Be Mindful,” by Gretchen Reynolds at nytimes.com.

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• Meditation for the Most Cluttered Mind
• High-Impact Living
• Bring Your Brain for the Ultimate Workout