Take a mindful approach to exercise and watch the concerns of life immediately begin to melt away. (Photos.com)
• Endurance training can calm and clear the mind.
• Stress is not detrimental per se, but the inability to deal with stress is. The perception of having options alleviates stress.
• Stress itself does not cause pathology, but the perception that we have no way of dealing with it effectively creates problems. If we perceive options, we can manage stress remarkably well, and it can be quite healthy. It keeps us alive. Cognitive functions and senses are inspired to work. Our minds must seek answers to problems.
• Practice is important in learning and effectively doing exercise movement training. It allows you to get to know yourself through daily self-examination and exploration. Every day is different.
• Exercise trains one to develop mental fortitude and gives one a more positive attitude when stressed.
• Exercise develops one’s ability to focus for longer periods of time without lapses of attention.
• Exercise produces a higher pain tolerance.
Modern environments cause people to lose a lot of their innate abilities. Our senses are either overloaded or underused. Conveniences remove workloads that would otherwise build strength. Like a lot of things, a mind not used enough or too much will suffer. For many, exercise is not a priority or it is a loathsome chore. Humans are designed for constructive movement and need it as much as air. There are specific needs to keep us in good working order. A negative mental state can oftentimes be altered positively by exercise movement techniques.
The increase of circulation, the releasing of endorphins, and the activation of hormones correlates with the positive mental states of happiness and natural euphoria. It gives us a reason for living more than to just survive. The movement arts are as old as society itself and just as indispensible. They provide us with joy in activity, a sense of accomplishment, stories to tell, and curiosities to satisfy. The door is open for everyone to find a method that is inspiring.
Try this:
During any exercise that necessitates keeping count of repetitions, such as a hundred sit-ups or a hundred punches (the greater the number, the better). Try to see the numbers visually rather than counting them out loud or mentally. As you visualize each number, keep your mind as silent as possible.
Don’t be surprised if you can’t do it at first. Exercise takes practice. Now you have something to look forward to. Write to me and tell me what you have discovered about your experiences with the role of mind in exercise.
You are what you do.
Have a question? Ask fitness expert Emory M. Moore Jr., founder of Embora and the EM Technique, at info@embora.com
