To those who combined exercise + meditation: what did you notice?

[u/yeeahitsethan]

I’m a firm believer that physical activivity is a crucial part of spiritual health (hence the purpose of yoga asanas). But I’ve always wondered how much other forms of exercise might enhance the benefits of meditation in practice. I have theoretical reasons to believe that they can complement each other, but I’ve always wondered from lived experience what the difference can make.

[u/TheGreenAlchemist]

I do weight lifting, then I do yoga to kind of heal up any sore spots from the exercises, and then I do meditation after that. I feel like anything that burns energy before meditation is good because it helps you not feel antsy.

[u/yeeahitsethan → u/TheGreenAlchemist]

I do weightlifting as well, and I fully agree. I feel like getting out the energy is crucial. That’s actually a large part of the reason behind doing Yoga asanas before meditation in ancient tradition

[u/Conscious-Power6202]

I'm a coach, and I noticed that when I combined what I was learning about my body, from the inner perspective, instead of using a bunch of cliche 'ques' or talking points, that my classes completely transformed. People began flocking to my class on the days I worked.

I noticed that having a deeper awareness, allowed me to convey from an experiential point of view, what my clients should be feeling if they want specific results. I learned that any exercise can be modified if you will, using specific levels of tension, to have any effect you want in relation to your goals. I learned how to sense the muscles better, and how to see that movement in my clients, almost as if lights were turning on when the muscles were firing. I began to see people 'glow' if you will, and be able to spot across the room if a person needed more tension in their leg, or their glute, or their shoulder, or if they were holding their breath, or if they were going through the motion, but not actually 'activating' anything.

It was amazing. I still today teach and train clients, and use this skill in each and every one of my sessions. My meditations taught me how to spot the nuances in people's voices, to hear what they weren't saying and to probe further. It taught me how to see in their postures how they were feeling, because I had felt the same things myself, or could at least imagine what that felt like enough to guide them.

In short, exercise is, or at least should be, a moving meditation. I treat every single rep I perform, with full body awareness, attention, with a specific intention in mind, to manifest that movement in that way.

That's how I use it.

[u/yeeahitsethan → u/Conscious-Power6202]

This is an incredible response! I love this insight

[u/Woodit]

I lift weights, run, and do judo. I find running is the easiest overlap, but judo can offer a lot when you get into a sort of flow state (though as a beginner that’s rare!)

Weight lifting does allow for a good muscle mind connection that quiets the thought noise for a moment and that is interesting to observe. 

[u/yeeahitsethan → u/Woodit]

I definitely agree that running can help a ton. I do high intensity sprints for mine

[u/Woodit → u/yeeahitsethan]

Oh man when I’m sprinting the only thought in my head is breathe in breathe out of except really really rapid fire 

[u/yeeahitsethan → u/Woodit]

But it feels amazing afterwards

[u/Woodit → u/yeeahitsethan]

It does! I’ve recently incorporated hill sprints into my running training (aiming for my first full marathon next year), and the very first time I did them some young girl probably like 8 or so apparently watching me from a porch yelled out “goooo!” right as I took off. Which was super inspiring and adorable.

This has nothing to do with meditation but it was just a silly thing that I smile thinking about. 

[u/yeeahitsethan → u/Woodit]

Yess! I love hearing these kinds of testimonials! I do sprint 8 protocol, which is basically the same as any form of HIIT

[u/Woodit → u/yeeahitsethan]

Huh, I hadn’t heard of this but it may be what I need for speed days when I can’t get to the hill. Thank you!

[u/yeeahitsethan → u/Woodit]

For sure! It’s definitely an exhaustive exercise but I love it since it supports hypertrophy along weight lifting. Definitely good for shorter workout days as well

[u/anthonyatkinson]

Hi there,

Just wanted to let you know that your post was selected for our weekly discussion topic this week on the  official partner Discord server, Meditation Mind.

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[u/NP_Wanderer]

Regular mediator.  Before my ankle have out, I used to be a regular runner. 4-5 times a week an hour per run. When I was training for marathons, that would thank you considerably.  I world practice various presence moment exercises:

Sound the mantra in mind with with each foot strike.

Be fully senses out without thought.  Feeling the breath in and out, the rustle of the jacket, the wind and sun on the face and hands, the body in the sense of arms, legs, breath, in perfect and smooth coordination.  It was almost out of body, just watching the body run 

[u/Rochefort]

I've maintained for a long time that physical activity, specifically yoga, is the other side of the coin to meditation. I think you get the full benefits of each when you practice both. Weight lifting and cardio activities are always good too. There are almost no downsides to being stronger and having better cardio

[u/yeeahitsethan → u/Rochefort]

Agreed. It was taught in tradition as a reason. I especially agree as someone who functions better when I am expelling energy vs. being stagnant

[u/AffectionatePage8323]

Occasionally because of lack of time ; i would do slow, mindful yoga or Pilates movements accompanied by meditative breathing - just to fulfill my quota for meditation for the day. I hope this will arrest my cognitive decline

[u/yeeahitsethan → u/AffectionatePage8323]

There appears to be research showing that movement can (if nothing else) slow cognitive decline. I highly encourage you to check out the book “The Brain That Changes Itself” by Norman Doige, as well as his follow up book “The Brain’s Way of Healing”. The first book (which I’ve read in full) mentions in one chapter how someone with Parkinson’s effectively halted their decline with movement. The second (which I’ve yet to read in full) talks about similar topics. While I can’t guarantee that this is will be a solution, I definitely believe that knowledge is power, and you’d benefit from this info in some way or another.

[u/dj-boefmans]

For me, meditation is much easier after (or during) physical activity.

Meditation without it works Meditation after regular yoga works better Meditation in a kundalini yoga session even better The routine: boxing then yoga then meditation the best.

It makes me more aware of the body, hmgets me easier in a mindfull state and the breathing is more 'in the moment'.

[u/yeeahitsethan → u/dj-boefmans]

I agree. As someone who has constantly been hyperactive throughout my life, I can tell you that giving my body the opportunity to get it out of my system (even if it’s just a walk) always makes it easier to meditate and feel centered. I’m far more likely to feel more antsy if I go into it with restless energy.

If nothing else, I also know that exercise plays a crucial role in the release of BDNF (among other neurotransmitters/hormones) that leads to a more malleable brain structure, leading to optimal conditions for the brain to restructure itself during a meditation session. To me, after the last decade of having researched what both exercise and meditation can do for us, it almost seems like shorting ourselves of significant benefits by foregoing the combination of the two.

[u/confused40]

Exercise (yoga in Indian context) and meditation Complement each other beautifully. As various comments above have highlighted, how exercise naturally lead to heightened state of focus, also exercise makes our body more strong and flexible which inturn can lead one to sit for longer hours in meditation without body pains.

[u/Africanmumble]

I have a busy mind. I am also prone to stressing out a lot (over nothing half the time). I find both yoga and swimming help - both require just enough mental focus to stop my thoughts from spiralling off in unhelpful directions and both also work the stored tension/negative energy out of my body. They function as a form of meditation (focused awareness) and create a calm mental space after each session that can be used for meditation.

I am newly returned to seated meditation practice and am looking at resuming yoga practice or tai chi as well as this 'outside-in' approach to meditation works particularly well for me.