Don’t Forget to Breath
By Bev Hillman
Vancouver Personal Training
As we continue to seek new and challenging workouts, mind-body fitness
seems to be the
forefront of choice.
Participants are choosing these disciplines not only to increase
physical fitness but it
improves their mental focus and reduces stress. Here are some mind-body
techniques to
incorporate into your fitness program.
Mindfulness, "being in the moment" is focusing on the
present and not letting the mind
wander or be distracted with thoughts that are unrelated to the
here and now. Once you
are mentally focused, observe "correct physical posture".
Be aware of where your body is in space. It should be in perfect
alignment to ensure
physical safety and be in a position to perform optimal. This requires
the attention of the
mind on the body.
Take a deep breath and release it slowly. Breathing enhances the
body's vital energy
supply and often reflects our inner thoughts and emotions. When
we are anxious or
nervous our breathing becomes shallow and rapid. Breathing deeply
throughout the
diaphragm reduces the number of breaths per minute by about half
and conserves energy.
It also decreases your central nervous system arousal, which in
turn, enhances your
feeling of well-being.
Running a race or competing in a sporting event in your mind can
help you perform more
confidently in reality.
Stretching programs are being used with great success by elite
athletes. The program
relies heavily on mind-body integration elements, especially breathing
techniques. Before
a game, the pressure can be great and adrenaline high.
Players are taken through a series of deep static stretches emphasizing
long calm
breathing mentally directing the breath to the area of the body
being worked. After a half
hour of concentrated stretching and breathing the players feel grounded,
concentrated and
centered. Their minds and bodies are connected and they are ready
to perform.
The powerful thing about achieving fitness of the mind is that once
you have learned
these skills, they will positively impact the other areas of your
life.
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