November 22, 2008
Dear Friends and Fitness Aspirants,
Where is your attention when you’re working out?
In this newsletter, I wanted to “focus” on focus!
Dear Friends and Fitness Aspirants,
Where is your attention when you’re working out?
In this newsletter, I wanted to “focus” on focus!
During your workouts, is your mind wandering all over the place while your body goes through the motions of exercise? A focused workout will benefit you much more than one where you’re distracted.
Here’s a quick test to demonstrate what I’m describing.
This test was designed by one of my mentors in fitness training, Shawn Phillips. It perfectly illustrates the power of how focus can radically change your training and dramatically improve results, even in one session. Try it now as you read.
Take your right arm and extend it out, with your palm open. Now close your palm, as if you are grabbing a dumbbell. Now curl the arm as if you are performing a biceps curl.
Easy, right? Unfortunately, this is how most of us work out all too often, thus missing the optimal benefits we could be getting from our workouts.
Now do it again. This time, as you begin to curl your arm, squeeze your biceps and touch your left index finger to the center of the right biceps. Then picture a red hot marble just under the point of contact and focus your eyes on the same spot. As you contract the biceps slowly, continue to deepen your concentration on this single spot of your muscle. Keep breathing. When you reach the peak of a full contraction, hold it. Hold it for 10 seconds deepening your focus and intensity. Then release.
Did you feel the difference? Can you see how much more you got out of the same exercise? Wasn’t it completely different? This IS the power of focus.
So, what are some of the ways we can deepen our focus during training? How can you and I make a workout more conscious and powerful so we can optimize the benefits of a workout?
A strong body needs a strong mind. The mind-body connection is not some mystical superstition but is, in fact, a highly documented scientific and medical phenomenon. Many studies show a strong correlation between the mind and body. A strong mind can create a powerful ability to focus. It’s similar to the way a magnifying glass can intensify and focus sunlight to reach burning hot temperatures. Focus can be cultivated through the practice of meditation. Studies of people who meditate regularly show such things as: increased growth of brain cells; altered brain wave states; increased intelligence, productivity and comprehension; decreased anxiety, stress and depression; reduced free radicals; lower heart rate and blood pressure; reduced biological aging; better and deeper sleep patterns; improved mental focus, memory, recall and more effective decision making.
So how can one learn and practice meditation with guaranteed results, without having to join a monastery or spend years in a cave in the Himalayas?
Here's something that’s helped me a lot. This is short video slideshow about meditation through sound technology. It’s one simple thing you can do to make a huge impact on your life.
It gives you amazing health benefits as well as huge emotional and psychological relief from the relentless onslaught of the stress we all face from these demanding and unpredictable times.
Go to: meditation technology now at http://www.centerpointe.com/meditate/?aid=370384 to find out more.
This is really amazing stuff, and something I’ve been practicing for over two years. I recommend it highly!
Enjoy your change. Please write to me if you have any questions or inspiring stories.
Be strong, stay strong, inspire others!
Laurie Carroll
(413)212 2030
Lauriec123@fastmail.fm
Take your right arm and extend it out, with your palm open. Now close your palm, as if you are grabbing a dumbbell. Now curl the arm as if you are performing a biceps curl.
Easy, right? Unfortunately, this is how most of us work out all too often, thus missing the optimal benefits we could be getting from our workouts.
Now do it again. This time, as you begin to curl your arm, squeeze your biceps and touch your left index finger to the center of the right biceps. Then picture a red hot marble just under the point of contact and focus your eyes on the same spot. As you contract the biceps slowly, continue to deepen your concentration on this single spot of your muscle. Keep breathing. When you reach the peak of a full contraction, hold it. Hold it for 10 seconds deepening your focus and intensity. Then release.
Did you feel the difference? Can you see how much more you got out of the same exercise? Wasn’t it completely different? This IS the power of focus.
So, what are some of the ways we can deepen our focus during training? How can you and I make a workout more conscious and powerful so we can optimize the benefits of a workout?
A strong body needs a strong mind. The mind-body connection is not some mystical superstition but is, in fact, a highly documented scientific and medical phenomenon. Many studies show a strong correlation between the mind and body. A strong mind can create a powerful ability to focus. It’s similar to the way a magnifying glass can intensify and focus sunlight to reach burning hot temperatures. Focus can be cultivated through the practice of meditation. Studies of people who meditate regularly show such things as: increased growth of brain cells; altered brain wave states; increased intelligence, productivity and comprehension; decreased anxiety, stress and depression; reduced free radicals; lower heart rate and blood pressure; reduced biological aging; better and deeper sleep patterns; improved mental focus, memory, recall and more effective decision making.
So how can one learn and practice meditation with guaranteed results, without having to join a monastery or spend years in a cave in the Himalayas?
Here's something that’s helped me a lot. This is short video slideshow about meditation through sound technology. It’s one simple thing you can do to make a huge impact on your life.
It gives you amazing health benefits as well as huge emotional and psychological relief from the relentless onslaught of the stress we all face from these demanding and unpredictable times.
Go to: meditation technology now at http://www.centerpointe.com/meditate/?aid=370384 to find out more.
This is really amazing stuff, and something I’ve been practicing for over two years. I recommend it highly!
Enjoy your change. Please write to me if you have any questions or inspiring stories.
Be strong, stay strong, inspire others!
Laurie Carroll
(413)212 2030
Lauriec123@fastmail.fm
