Have you ever thought of meditation while you exercise?
You can gain more than a great body by exercising; you will also gain a clearer mind. If you exercise regularly, you know already that you can get into a meditative state when you are at the gym or running through the park. It’s just a question of being able to find that particular state every time you try and it’s very frustrating when you can’t.
Most runners know about a ‘runner’s high’, when certain hormones start to kick in and your feet begin to feel as if they are floating. This is usually accompanied by a feeling of great well-being. That’s not what we’re talking about here, although the runner’s high is a great experience, too.
Repetitive exercise is best for meditation. If you’re competing on the squash court or having to second-guess the other team on the football pitch, you’ll be spending too much time thinking, which will prevent you from getting into the right meditative state. But going back and forth on the rowing machine, putting one foot in front of the other around the park or lifting weights are all good places to practice a little open-or closed-eyed meditation.
Tips For Meditating During Exercise
When you start your exercise, focus on your breathing. Try to keep breathing through your nose. If you can’t do that, try to keep inhaling through your nose at least, and exhale through your mouth,
Focus on your body. Notice which muscles are working and which joints and ligaments are straining. Try to breathe into any place that feels strained. Instead of tensing up as you work out, try to stay relaxed.
You’ll probably find a stream of thoughts coming into your mind. Let them. But try and sit back into your head (metaphorically speaking) and see your thoughts flowing past.
Watch your breathing and the rhythm of your heartbeat. By the end of your session you should have succeeded in emptying your mind as well as exercising your body.