Boost Your Fitness Level By Using Mindfulness

Being mindful during your workout means you’re concentrating on the task at hand; like going through a checklist in your head of your form while completing a movement—instead of thinking about your post-workout snack.

Using mindful techniques in fitness while lifting weights or while swinging a kettlebell can help prevent injury while ensuring that you’re executing the exercise with proper technique. Not to mention that concentrating on the muscles you’re using can lead to better muscle activation and increased strength. Improved muscle strength helps you get the results you desire even faster, whether that’s better endurance, speed, or improving your vertical leap.

(Learn 6 tips to practice for a more mindful holiday season.)

Here’s how to leverage mindfulness techniques to enhance your form:

1. Just breathe.

Duh, you know you need to do this anyway, but you may be tempted to hold your breath during some exercises (or just be unconsciously doing so), especially while lifting heavy weights. Give yourself a moment to breathe in and out before starting a set of lifting weights. Breathe out while you lift a weight (or execute the most challenging part of the exercise), and breathe in while you lower the weight.

Read 4 Surprisingly Simple Ways to Get More from Your Workout on Headspace.

Here’s how to use mindfulness to stop bad habits.