Typically we think of meditation as just a mental relaxation exercise. However, the benefits of meditation span more than just for your mind. It also provides numerous advantages for your overall health, happiness and athletic abilities. Read on to see how you could improve your training by implementing meditation into your weekly routine.
Mentally Stronger To Push Through Workouts
Meditating can actually train the brain to be mentally tougher to push through pain and power through a workout. One study found that those who practiced meditation had brain functioning that was comparable to that of elite athletes. There’s a reason many of the top athletes include mental training as an integral part of their workouts!
Enhances Weight Loss
When we meditate, we practice to become more mindful and this includes with what we eat. It helps for us to better consider what food we choose to eat and be less likely to eat things just for the sake of it. Several studies confirm this finding, such as one study in which women who were trained to appreciate their food and meditated daily for half an hour more easily lost weight.
Meditation Reduces Anxiety And Depression
Mindful meditating has been proven to reduce mental stress, anxiety and depression. In some cases, participants who took four 20 minute meditation classes were able to reduce their anxiety up to 40%. This is especially important for people who are physically active, as depression and anxiety can actually be felt in woman as physical pain.
Improves Your Pain Threshold
One of the greatest benefits of meditating pertinent to athletes is that it helps improve pain tolerance. The parts of your brain that process pain are most affected by meditation, providing you more control and calm. This is crucial when you are in the middle of a race, competition, or even a tough workout! You are sure to improve your performance with some mindfulness added to your day!
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