If you meditate on a regular basis, then you probably know how amazing it can feel. That sensation of deep centeredness combined with a quieter mind is pretty incredible, to say the least. And it’s no secret that meditation offers a slew of potential health benefits — such as lowered stress, depression, and anxiety levels. But did you know that meditation can also do a world of good for your workouts, and optimize your progress when it comes to?
Health Benefits Due To Meditation
When combined with a regular fitness routine, a meditation practice can set you up for greater success overall. By priming the body for better health — through lowered blood pressure, deeper sleep, and a strengthened immune system, meditation can help you level up your results like never before. Additionally, studies show that regular meditation yields cognitive benefits, such as greater mental clarity, that can help you commit to your goals and follow through long-term. Essentially, meditating on a regular basis can help you hone a laser-like ability to focus, making it easier to stick with it when your workouts get rough — and maintain that momentum over time. our absolute favorite meditation studio in NYC is MNDFL. Their beautiful studios are meant to feel like home and they feature expert meditation teachers from a variety of traditions, offering simple techniques in an accessible manner.
Studies Show…
According to a 2006 study from the Center for Mind and Brain at the University of California, meditation can actually restructure your brain in such a way that boosts the ability to process emotions and maintain concentration. Moreover, stress reduction can help a lot when it comes to keeping up with your fitness routine. The more stressed out you are, the more likely it is that you’ll ditch your workout plans and fall back various coping hacks — especially those that can undermine your workout goals, such as emotional eating combined with Netflix marathons.
Cognitive Mindfulness
Not only can a meditation practice boost your ability to relax and commit to your goals, By amping up your self awareness — on the emotional, mental, and physical levels — you’re primed for greater achievement when it comes to athletic performance. By honestly assessing your strengths and weaknesses, and bringing greater mental focus to your goal setting process, you’re more likely to stick to a program that will yield more transformative results.
Exercising Your Mind To Achieve Your Goals
Basically, meditation is like a workout for your mind. With time, repetition, and practice you get better at it. Additionally, meditation can help you refine your ability to visualize the results you want to achieve, while giving you the mental stamina you need to follow through. Powerful visualizations plus sustained, committed follow-through, can help you reach your goals like nothing else.
Last Thoughts…
If you’ve never tried a meditation practice before, start small. Even five minutes a day can make a big difference, and, as you’re ready to, you can add to your practice incrementally as you go. Just like working out, you might face some challenges with your practice in the beginning — the habit of simply sitting, breathing, and being, without judgment of your process, can take some time to master — so don’t stress it. You’re practice doesn’t have to be perfect, and neither do your workouts. But when you combine your meditation practice with a regular fitness routine, you’ve got a formula for success that’s hard to beat.
