Whether you’re an athlete or not, mindfulness and meditation is something that will help improve your performance. Even though you’re prepared physically, if your mind isn’t at ease, you won’t be able to achieve a successful workout.
While meditation is not a popular thing among gym junkies, it’s quite popular among famous athletes. In fact, even some of the world’s top sports players have been practising this method.
That means yogis and middle-aged hippies, who consider meditation as a part of their routine, are reaping the benefits. But, how does it actually help improve your fitness level? Read along this article and explore the advantages of mindfulness and meditation on your active lifestyle.
1. Fights Stress
Stress is something inevitable for most, if not all, of us. It’s a part of our lives, but sometimes it can get in the way and affect our performance. It seems impossible to eliminate stress from our minds completely, so it’s essential to find a way to manage it.
One of the most effective ways to battle stress is through meditation. A recent study from the Journal of Health Psychology found that meditation can significantly reduce the stress hormones. Being able to manage to stay relaxed will help you remain in a calm state throughout a marathon, a killer workout, or even in day-to-day situations.
It’s essential for anyone to know how to manage stress so that you can carefully think during tough situations, especially when you’re under pressure.
2. Promotes Better Sleeping Patterns
We all know that lack of sleep can severely affect our health as well as our mood. For bodybuilders, sleep deprivation can hinder muscle growth, and it’s also proven to cause weight gain.
However, some people just don’t fall asleep fast no matter how much they try. With the help of mindfulness and meditation, you’ll be able to improve the quality and length of your sleep. Research from Harvard Medical School has shown that meditation brings the mind to a calmer state by balancing out the activity of the brain.
That means you’ll wake up fully prepared to take on the rest of the day and feel better.
3. Boosts Immune System
Aside from being able to sleep better at night, meditation also ensures that your health is well-maintained. As someone who has an active lifestyle, you surely don’t want to get sick and lay in bed all day.
One way to block any illnesses from getting in the way of your fitness goals is through meditation. Another excellent benefit of this practice is strengthening the immune system, which is highly beneficial for anyone who loves to work a sweat.
4. Develops Self and Body Awareness
Meditation is known for engaging the mind with the body, and a lot of people, especially fitness enthusiasts, have overlooked its importance. We all have our “blind spots”, but many of us aren’t aware of them. These are the thoughts in our minds that can sometimes make us feel bad and unmotivated.
By acknowledging these particular things, it can be easier to cope up with them and keep them away. This can help improve your performance during a workout and build self-confidence especially if you’re a beginner.
Mindfulness can also prevent injury as it increases the awareness of your muscles and keeps you cautious with every move you make.
5. Easily Enter Into ‘Flow State’
What exactly is the “Flow State”? Well, think of it as your “Beast” mode wherein you feel like you’re really getting into the workout. It’s that time when you feel like you’re floating and you just can’t feel any weight at all. The Biohacking community describes it as the “most powerful state of being”, and any athlete or fitness junkie would want to be in it.
However, it’s not that easy to enter into this state, but meditation can surely help. By being able to control your mind and your body, you can reach the peak of your performance and make the most out of every workout session.
6. Happiness and Satisfaction
Aside from all its effects on our minds and bodies, meditation also leads us towards becoming a happier individual. We all have different stories, and some of us deal with a lot of pressure and anxiety. This can serve as a motivation for others, but it can also affect your performance during a workout.
Mindfulness and meditation allow you to be in control of your thoughts, so you can set aside your problems and concentrate on your workout instead. This can also help starters not feel bad about themselves and focus on achieving their goal.
These are only a few of the many benefits you can get from mindfulness and meditation. Even if you’re not a hardcore fitness enthusiast, you can still consider doing meditation to improve your overall well-being. Incorporating this practice into your daily routine can also strengthen your relationships with your family, friends, and inspire you to be more productive.
On top of that, you don’t need any equipment to start meditation. Just find a quiet place to stay, clear your mind, and you’re good to go. Taking deep breathes is one of the easiest and most popular forms of meditation, but there are also other techniques that might suit you better.