Body awareness

If you want to cultivate body awareness, meditation and breathwork are essential. Ask yourself: Do you rush into your workouts? Do you feel like you have a limited time or just want to “get it over with”? Or maybe you’re training consistently but not seeing the results you expected?

Without body awareness, you’re simply moving without specific attention or intention. Finding a moment of peace and clarity before every workout—through meditation, breathing exercises, and restorative practices—will help you start each session with a mindset that enhances your understanding of your body’s strengths, limitations, and imbalances. This approach will improve your mind-muscle connection and help you achieve your fitness goals more efficiently and consistently.

Meditation is a Workout for Your Brain

Meditation isn’t just a mental break; it’s a workout for your brain. Just as you practice movement patterns and exercises to improve your physical fitness, you should also practice meditation to strengthen your mental fitness. There’s no right or wrong way to meditate. The goal is to regain control. Becoming aware of negative thoughts allows you to acknowledge and observe them, and most importantly, let them go. When you release thoughts that don’t serve you, you can listen to your body, move more mindfully, and focus on your movement goals. This mental clarity helps you achieve your goals faster and with a deeper understanding.

The Power of Nasal Breathing

Pay attention to your breath. Practice breathing in and out through your nose. If you catch yourself breathing through your mouth, consciously switch back to nasal breathing. Over time, this will become a natural habit. If you’re interested in the science behind this practice, I recommend reading The Oxygen Advantage by Patrick McKeown or Breath by James Nestor.

Embrace the Process

No matter how difficult or frustrating these practices may seem at first, they are crucial steps toward achieving your goals more efficiently. Slow down. Go back to basics. Embrace a beginner’s mindset and stay humble. By becoming a student of your mind and body, you’ll develop the optimal mindset for your workouts, and the results will speak for themselves.

With love
Mr Pep