The benefits of regular exercise are well established and generally accepted. Here is a brief list:
- Improved body composition
- Augmented cardiorespiratory capacity
- Greater flexibility
- Increased strength
While this is an excellent list of features, it is incomplete. Modern physical training has evolved to offer so much more than the features above and now includes the following:
- Ability to concentrate
- Improved visual reflexes
- Functional mobility
- Resilience against injury
- A sense of wellness
To maximize the potential benefits of exercise, you will have to train a different way. And it all starts with awareness.
Awareness allows you to focus on the moment, which enables you to get more out of your training sessions than simply sweating for an hour of your day. To accomplish this, we recommend the following three-step method:
- You want to visualize yourself performing the most beautiful set of squats the world has ever seen. Research has shown that when we imagine movement, the same brain areas active during actual exercise are activated. You can think of it as a mini rehearsal just before you go onstage.
- Take ample time to set up your starting position the same way every time. A ritualistic approach to the setup makes it easier for your brain to establish optimal patterns that lead to mastery of the skill. The more skill you cultivate, the greater the performance you can extract from your weekly training sessions.
- Make sure you fully commit to the movement. While it can be challenging initially to focus your thoughts, over time, you will develop enough skill to enter a flow state, where the movement feels easy, automatic, autonomous.
How you position your body during the setup, the execution, and the subsequent dismount from an exercise are critical to utilizing this approach. Here we are essentially addressing posture and being more aware of it will improve your training and sense of well-being during your diurnal routine.
Additionally, you will want to pay attention to eye movements during your chosen activity. Initially, locking your eyes on a target a few feet in front of you can help maintain a smooth and balanced trajectory during your movements. But as your skill improves, you can use more advanced techniques like matching eye movements with their corresponding postural reflexes. For example, when we look down, we encourage flexion in the body, and looking up enables extension. Simply being aware of this during your training can yield the insight needed to continue progressing in your movement practice.
Robust health, wellness, and optimal performance are well within our reach if we reframe our idea of training to be detail-oriented, focused, and aware.
