“Peace is the result of retraining your mind to process life as it is, rather than as you think it should be.” — Wayne W. Dyer
When we think about being healthy, the picture that usually comes to mind is a fit body that’s maintained by regular exercise and healthy eating. And while that’s definitely a huge part of good health, it’s only half of the story!
I truly believe that one of the most important ways to maintain good overall health is taking the time to work on your inner well-being.
One of the simplest ways of doing this? Practising mindfulness.
Being mindful means being fully present in a moment, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not allowing ourselves to be overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.
While this may sound fairly straightforward, how can we cultivate this in our everyday life?
I’ve thought a lot about what this means to me, and have been actively working on my inner well-being by practising mindfulness for the past few years. I’ve noticed that incorporating daily strategies to help me decompress has really helped increase my mindfulness, and has improved how I navigate my experience in the world. One tactic that has helped me in particular is meditation.
Meditation is the process of focusing your attention on one single thing — such as your breathing, body sensations or a mantra. This helps you relax, focus inward and be present in the moment.
Similar to how physical exercise strengthens your body, your brain also needs to be exercised in order to improve and maximize its functioning.
The more you practice this in your daily routine, the more you’ll notice that you’re better able to handle the stresses in your life and manage anxious thoughts, all the while making room for a peaceful feeling of well-being.
I’m sure you’ve come across meditation before — it’s been practised in many cultures and religions for centuries. And if you’ve ever been to a yoga class, you’ve probably already practised some form of meditation! If your yoga teacher ever instructed you to focus on your breathing, and allow your thoughts to float freely through you before letting them go, you’re already a meditation novice.
But how does mindfulness relate to fitness?
In order to make fitness a long-lasting habit, it needs to be partnered with a healthy mindset.
There are a million reasons to start working out; from getting to your goal weight, fitting into your bathing suit or wedding dress, to generally just to feel better and having more energy.
Whatever your goal may be, the most important thing that will help you achieve your fitness goals is the ability to understand your why. Understanding why you’re pushing yourself out of your comfort zone in the gym will make your workouts feel more purposeful, and will help you through those tough times when your motivation is waning.
Meditation is one of the most powerful tools you can use to increase your mindfulness so that you can reach your fitness goals — and maintain them!
I am a firm believer in the power of meditation. Bringing it into your life has positive, proven benefits, and will help you improve your inner health. And like any new habit, if you haven’t yet learned how to incorporate meditation into your life it can be difficult to find the extra minutes in the day to start.
If you’re interested in learning more about mindfulness and meditation, stay tuned! Next I’ll be posting a helpful list of some of the strategies I recommend for introducing mindfulness and meditation into your life.
Have an amazing day and Namaste!
Emilia
