{"id":411,"date":"2025-04-03T17:30:07","date_gmt":"2025-04-03T17:30:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fakewrithe.com\/?p=411"},"modified":"2025-04-09T14:34:13","modified_gmt":"2025-04-09T14:34:13","slug":"march-mindfulness-your-total-gym-workout-max-results","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/fakewrithe.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/03\/march-mindfulness-your-total-gym-workout-max-results\/","title":{"rendered":"March Mindfulness + Your Total Gym Workout = Max Results"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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March Madness <\/span>Mindfulness + Your\u00a0 <\/strong>Total Gym Workout = Max Results<\/strong><\/p>\n

Exercise and training your body is like anything else you do in life \u2013 if you are completely focused on what you\u2019re doing, you\u2019re going to get the most out of it. Read on to learn 4 simple workout concepts that will maximize your benefits and the ROI \u2013 Return On Investment \u2013 on your Total Gym<\/strong> training time.<\/p>\n

Mindfulness and meditation are popular buzz words and all the rage lately. Why? Ultra-successful people will tell you that you can only be 100% effective when your mind and thoughts are in The Present Moment.<\/strong> Sure, you can plan for the future or contemplate and learn from the past, but all of your power lies in The Now.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been meditating now for over 31 years, and I\u2019ve been teaching for 10. I am often asked what the difference between mindfulness and meditation is.<\/p>\n

Mindfulness:<\/u><\/strong> Is simply being fully present in the moment<\/em><\/strong> and fully present<\/em><\/strong> with whatever you are doing. For example, think of your all-time favorite hobby or activity. It could be gardening, drawing, watching a good movie, playing a game like chess or a sport with friends like pickleball. When you are enjoying your favorite hobby, you are completely mentally immersed<\/em><\/strong> in the present moment, and you\u2019re focused on one thing and one thing only \u2013 your activity. What a gift to give yourself!<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll know that you are being mindful and living in the present moment because one result is that time flies. You are so immersed in the here and now and the result is maximum focus, contentment and Joy!<\/p>\n

A big part or your joy is when you\u2019re immersed in the present moment, guess what you\u2019re Not<\/em> <\/strong>thinking about? What happened (or didn\u2019t happen) at work, To-Do lists, the kids, what the stock market is doing, what you\u2019re making for dinner, what you need at the store, or anything else in the past or future that can disrupt your focus and peace. It\u2019s that powerful and rewarding team!<\/p>\n

Meditation:<\/u><\/strong> Is a discipline that will help you live in the present moment more often in life- no matter what you\u2019re doing. You will start having more control over your thoughts instead of your thoughts controlling you.<\/p>\n

Homework: <\/u><\/strong>The next time you\u2019re doing something mundane like brushing your teeth or showering or doing the dishes, etc. \u2013 Watch your thoughts <\/em><\/strong>and how they jump around. Ask yourself if you are in control of what your \u201c<\/strong>Thinker\u201d<\/strong> is doing or if it is just randomly doing its thing of being in the future or the past?<\/p>\n

Make sure to watch the video to fully grasp these simple 4 steps and your own awesome, Mindful Total Gym workout:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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  1. Close your eyes<\/strong> (this is a powerful team!) and identify the muscle you\u2019re training.<\/li>\n
  2. With eyes closed, Visualize <\/strong>that muscle stretching\/lengthening during the eccentric movement, and shortening\/flexing during the concentric movement.<\/li>\n
  3. Coordinate your breath and core contraction<\/strong> (transverse abdominis) with your movement.<\/li>\n
  4. Squeeze and hold <\/strong>the muscle you\u2019re working at the peak contraction. And squeeze and hold for a good, two seconds. This is an internal squeeze (like flexing your biceps in the mirror!). This exemplifies my favorite Pilates principle: Focus on the Muscle, not the Movement. <\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Once again, the benefits?<\/p>\n