Meditation
What is meditation? How can it help me improve my health and fitness?
Meditation can give you a sense of calm, peace and balance that benefits both your emotional well-being and your overall health.
This is a rather new topic for me, but I will try to best explain to you how you can begin to meditate and achieve better breathing and calmness.
First you need to prepare yourself. You need to be alert to make most of meditation so make sure to be free of alcohol or non-prescribed drugs.
Try to not eat prior to mediation as keeping an empty stomach will prevent the distraction of digestion. Do not smoke, before meditating. (you should not be smoking at all it is incredibly bad for your health) You also have to be comfortable. Wear whatever clothes you feel relaxed in.
You then need to choose a spot to meditate, or 'meditation space'. It is critical to your meditative progress that this spot is calm and restful. Remember to silence your phone before meditating. Then dim or turn off the lights. Lastly before you begin, make sure that your back is in an upright position. You can make sure of this by using a pillow or chair.
Now you must sit still in your chosen position. Start to breathe deeply in and out. Focus only on your breathing and the stillness around you. When your thoughtscome, go back to your breathing. Experience how your body moves/expands when you breathe. Feel the air being inhaled and exhaled. Be aware of the physical sensations your body experiences when you breathe in deeply and exhale. You have to understand that at first focus will be hard. But with practice and perserverance you gain the benefits of meditation. Practice daily and in time, the mindfulness that you experience from meditation should spill over the rest of your life, causing you to think carefully about your diet, your activity levels and the things you submit your mind to through reading, viewing and listening.
Meditation may give off a new-age/spiritual vibe, but it is definitely something which can help you with your mental and physical health. These are some of the areas it helps with that are important for athletes:
Meditation can give you a sense of calm, peace and balance that benefits both your emotional well-being and your overall health.
This is a rather new topic for me, but I will try to best explain to you how you can begin to meditate and achieve better breathing and calmness.
First you need to prepare yourself. You need to be alert to make most of meditation so make sure to be free of alcohol or non-prescribed drugs.
Try to not eat prior to mediation as keeping an empty stomach will prevent the distraction of digestion. Do not smoke, before meditating. (you should not be smoking at all it is incredibly bad for your health) You also have to be comfortable. Wear whatever clothes you feel relaxed in.
You then need to choose a spot to meditate, or 'meditation space'. It is critical to your meditative progress that this spot is calm and restful. Remember to silence your phone before meditating. Then dim or turn off the lights. Lastly before you begin, make sure that your back is in an upright position. You can make sure of this by using a pillow or chair.
Now you must sit still in your chosen position. Start to breathe deeply in and out. Focus only on your breathing and the stillness around you. When your thoughtscome, go back to your breathing. Experience how your body moves/expands when you breathe. Feel the air being inhaled and exhaled. Be aware of the physical sensations your body experiences when you breathe in deeply and exhale. You have to understand that at first focus will be hard. But with practice and perserverance you gain the benefits of meditation. Practice daily and in time, the mindfulness that you experience from meditation should spill over the rest of your life, causing you to think carefully about your diet, your activity levels and the things you submit your mind to through reading, viewing and listening.
Meditation may give off a new-age/spiritual vibe, but it is definitely something which can help you with your mental and physical health. These are some of the areas it helps with that are important for athletes:
- Lowers high blood pressure
- Lowers the levels of blood lactate, reducing anxiety attacks
- Decreases any tension-related pain, such as, tension headaches, ulcers, insomnia, muscle and joint problems
- Increases serotonin production that improves mood and behavior
- Improves the immune system
- Increases the energy level, as you gain an inner source of energy