The Body
It is often said that you should know what you have planned for every
session in the gym. This is true. How about every moment in that session?
Knowing what your body is doing in any given moment, how it is
responding, and how you are controlling yourself, are key to getting the most
from your training…and getting results.
The body responds to the stresses in differing ways, and these include
elevated heart rate and an increased rate of breathing. From a mental viewpoint, the heart rate is
raised to prepare the body for ‘fight or flight’, and likewise the breathing is
the body’s way of (attempting to) assist the individual get through what is in
front for them. This may be real or
imagined.
Heart Rate:
Unless you have spent the last 20 years of your life in the Himalayas as
a monk, you’ll most likely have little control over (mentally) controlling your
heart rate. However, you do have the
ability to create a ‘flight or fight’ situation in your mind. This workout could be the best workout of
your life. Or perhaps you know 100% that
by doing a workout such as this one twice a week for the next three months you
will finally reach your goal. The goal
you’ve waited ten years for. That is
exciting. Use the warm-up to think about
these smaller moments. They are very
powerful, and will get your body and mind fully prepared.
Breathing:
Conversely, sometimes we are too amped up for a session, or perhaps a
single moment that is approaching us. (Like
a big event we are training for). By
being over stimulated we lose some control of our functions, and this may
include mental focus, coordination, and also the ability to feel we are in
control of what we are facing. By
slowing down our breathing we have the ability to have a ‘timeout’ and reassess
where we are at. When you become aware
that your breathing is too fast for the situation you are in, it is best to
reset everything. This may be between
sets, or in the moments before you ‘step up to the plate’. Breath in, with the breath lasting 6 seconds. Then hold for 2 seconds. Then breath out for 7 seconds. You will feel more centered, and more in
control.
Whether ramping up, or calming down, you do have control over
yourself. This is part of ‘winning’. (You get to define what ‘winning’ is for
you).
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