Practicing yoga principles while
training is not a new concept to those of us who practice yoga and perhaps some
of you who practice yoga while training without even knowing it. But to those
of you who have never done yoga or who have never considered the idea you are
missing out on the wonderful benefits that could be yours through using the
yoga mentality while training.
Yoga brings a new and invigorating
component to your training, and I don't mean just by increasing your
flexibility, which yes is a benefit. What I'm referring to is what happens when
you bring yoga off of the matt and onto your run, or swim, or bike ride. By
bringing yoga with you while training I sincerely believe you will be much more
satisfied and fulfilled with your training sessions, and you will see
improvements in your physical performance as well as your mental performance.
This article will be the first of a
series, where I will take an idea or principle that yoga teaches and tell you
how to incorporate it into your training. However, if you have never taken a
yoga class before, I recommend you sign up and get started. Many of the things
may make sense to you just by reading them. However, when you go to a class and
put them into practice under the guidance of a skilled instructor you will
better know how to apply them to your training as well.
The first principle I'd like to talk
about is mindfulness.
Smriti
Five years ago if you would have
asked, I would have told you that I hated running. I would have given you the
same reasons that most anyone else would have had, it was boring, I wasn't very
good at it, it was too hard, etc. If it wasn't for a coworker, Russ, I don't
think I would have ever willingly decided to take up running. Running became a
way for me to cope with life, it helped me find a sense of identity and most
importantly I learned the power of mindfulness in running.
You're
standing in Virabhadrasana I (Warrior Pose I). You actively reach through your back foot
and allow your tailbone to descend away from your lower back as your arms reach
up toward the ceiling. As you hold the pose you start to notice your front
thigh burning, your shoulders holding tension, and your breath becoming
labored. Still holding. Soon you get agitated and start to anticipate the joy
you'll feel when the pose is over. Your breath becomes shallow while you await
the teacher's instruction to come out of the pose. But she doesn't say
anything. You label her a sadist. Still holding. You decide that you are
never coming back to yoga. As your thigh starts to shake, you mentally check
out. Frustrated, you drop your arms and look around the room.
Now
imagine this: You're standing in Virabhadrasana I, noticing the same
sensations, having the same thoughts and feelings—anger, boredom, impatience,
tension. But instead of reacting, you simply observe your thoughts. You
remember that this pose, like everything else in life, will eventually end. You
remind yourself not to get caught up in your own story line. And, in the midst
of feeling irritated while your thighs burn, you appreciate the sweetness of
the moment. You may even feel a wash of gratitude that you have the time and
privilege to do a hatha yoga practice.
Then you bring your awareness back to your breath and witness the ongoing
sensations and thoughts until the teacher guides you out of the pose.
As illustrated by Isaacs,
mindfulness is about staying in the moment and keeping your mind focused on the
task with a non-judgmental attitude. About.com uses the following definition:
I really like this definition
because it points out a few characteristics of mindfulness found in the words
in "in touch", "aware", "non-judgmental" which
are also illustrated in the example by Isaacs. Other characteristics of
mindfulness include, attentive, heedful, and mindful of responsibilities.
· Injury prevention through paying better attention to the
signals sent to you by your body.
· Improved awareness of technique and mechanics as you focus
on proper movement
· Improved mental toughness and ability to tolerate the stress
of training
· Increased satisfaction and fulfillment
· Improved performance as your mind is centered over the
intention of the workout
· Increased ability to pace appropriately.
Applying the Principle
Being mindful may be easier said
than done. This is something you'll have to start doing a little at a time. If
you have never practiced mindfulness I would recommend finding an active yoga
class to participate in first. Having a teacher to guide you during this period
of exploration can be very helpful to becoming more mindful.
Some ways that you can practice mindfulness is by
intermittently checking in with your body, focusing on your breathing and
movements. Turn down or off the music and the external noise, enjoy your
surroundings. Lastly, do your best to not make judgmental responses while
training. Do your best to be a neutral observer.
Next Article: Intention in mindful training
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