You spend hours training your body, but have you considered the benefits of training your mind?
Mindfulness is a technique that is used to find flow and clarity in life and in sport. The practice of mindfulness involves finding frameworks and mechanisms that combat distracting and negative thoughts and feelings.
As a psychological process, it works by strengthening mental focus, physical awareness and emotional resilience. When facing work or life challenges, it can help you find clarity. At a personal training level, it can help you to perform at your best and assist your client in reaching their goals.
What is a ‘full mind’ and how can we become mindful?
The mind can become full, which causes us to lag; similar to when a computer is running slow. We are actually ‘mind full’ in this state. Our minds are full of expectations, technology, responsibility, opinions and the stresses of life in general. The result of this is that we are taken out of the moment – affecting our performance. Techniques of mindfulness can be employed to help us stay at the top of our game.
Finding quiet in today’s busy world
The modern world is driven by technology and a go go go mentality. Yet when it feels as though the main objective is to be as busy as possible, it can be very difficult to make time for mindfulness.
By slowing down and implementing specific breathing techniques and becoming aware of your body and its emotions, we can change our state of mind. We can learn to have control over our thoughts and emotions. With practice, mindfulness can help us take back control of our reactions and learn to mindfully respond in numerous circumstances.
Who uses it?
Many professional entities within the sporting arena currently utilise mindfulness and have found it to be incredibly beneficial on both an individual and team scale. From the Richmond Football Club to the Los Angeles Lakers, mindfulness assists in bringing concentration and clarity to any performance based setting.
Mindfulness as a business tool
As a trainer, mindfulness is hugely beneficial. Many trainers who use mindfulness find that they achieve more focus at work and are better able to manage the demands of a busy life.
Further, PT’s are utilising mindfulness as a skill they can pass onto their clients, as it is proven that a holistic approach to training is the most successful. Trainers who employ mindfulness understand that training the mind is just as important as training the body.
Mindfulness resources
- Black Dog Institute provides a factsheet with mindfulness techniques to practise at home.
- Smiling Mind is a free app which helps develop mindfulness skills and can reduce stress.
- Breathe – ReachOut.com suitable for young people wishing to practice and develop mindfulness.
- Headspace App – Meditation and Mindfulness Made Simple
- Meditation & Mindfulness Courses & Retreats
- Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Peak Performance
- An Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation – 4 Week Course – Mindfulness Melbourne
- Introductory Mindfulness Courses – Nationwide courses
- Mindfulness Online Course – by Health Institute Australia
Content provided by: David Gladwell, (Ballarat, Victoria)
MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION INSTRUCTOR.
A Still Quiet Place Instructor
Level 3 Wellness Coach
Cert 4 Personal Trainer
Diploma of Aromatherapy
To get in contact with David send us an email to [email protected]
Edited by: Physical Activity Australia