Awaken to a Mindful Workout

By Lisa Hampton, MS
Founder and CEO

Our lifestyles have gotten so busy and we have become experts at multi-tasking but there’s often a price to pay. And that price, unfortunately, is our health —
“So many people spend their health gaining wealth, and then have to spend
 their wealth to regain their health.”  A.J. Reb Materi, Our Family
Being physically active has numerous benefits that affect our health, including lowering blood pressure, reducing the risks of cancers and heart disease, and increasing muscular strength and flexibility. Few make exercise a priority and for those who do, it is often rushed and just one more thing to fit into our busy day. I’d like to offer you an alternative.
Imagine looking forward to your exercise because it’s actually enjoyable! Infusing mindfulness into your fitness program can revive a boring routine, awaken awareness and decrease stress. Mindfulness is paying attention to the present moment and promotes clarity and transformation in all aspects of life, including fitness. I created Mindful Fitness out of the theory that traditional fitness training could be more effective and more meaningful with a mindful approach.

Benefits of Mindful Fitness
• Increased Energy
• Enhanced Vitality and Well-Being
• Motivation and Adherence to Exercise
• Prevention of Injuries
• Increased Muscle Strength and Flexibility
• Become more Attentive to your Body’s Needs
• Decreased Stress
• Strengthened Immune System
• Greater Self-Esteem
Tips for a Mindful Workout
• Breathe and relax – Stop. Take a deep breath. Experience the joy of this simple act. It’s refreshing and breathing brings you into the present moment.

Set an intention – Each exercise session benefits from having a purpose. Keep it simple: Increase energy, release stress, strengthen muscles, maintain an aerobic pace, or cultivate awareness.

Awaken your senses in nature – Take your exercise outdoors and enjoy the beach, a lake, the woods or a park. Notice the smells, the feel of the sun, wind or cold on your skin. Even in January, taking a brisk walk in the cold amidst the snow covered earth is invigorating!

Focus on your muscles – When you work your biceps, focus on your biceps; when you work your abs, focus on your abs. Science validates that mental imagery creates activity in the muscles. Plus, you’ll move more slowly and decrease risk of injury.

Move slowly and purposefully – Unless you’re training for a specific sport and need power, most of your strength training should be done at a slow to moderate pace. And choose purposeful movement that promotes health and vitality.

Express gratitude – End your session by being grateful for all that your body can do (instead of what it can’t do) and for all the blessings in your life! Embody the feeling of gratitude in every cell of your body.

Mindful Fitness offers individual and group fitness programs that integrate and synergize meditation and visualization with purposeful physical exercise to promote agility, balance, cardiovascular health, flexibility, and strength. Mindful Fitness offers the following services:
• fitness training for individuals, partners, and groups
• fitness instruction for seminars and workshops
• meditation instruction
• relaxation therapies instruction
• yoga instruction for individuals, partners, and groups

Please call Lisa Hampton, MS at 619.224.2101 or visit her website for more information on how mindful fitness may improve your life.