Techniques to help tune your mind to listen to your body
Working out goes beyond the physical body and from my experience requires equal levels of mental and physical strength and endurance. Even what appears to be the “simplest” workout or movement takes high levels mental focus to be properly executed. Technique, and its proper execution, allows the person to achieve maximum results, in the shortest duration, with the lowest risk of injury. One must be realistic and know their personal limitations. Working smartly and listening to your body is the only way to remain consistent and have longevity in your workout journey.
Only you know your personal limitations and know that you don’t always understand someone else’s. There is no use comparing yourself to others as we are all on our own individual journey. Even if someone appears one way, you don’t know what they have been through, and any obstacles they might have had to overcome.
If you have past or present injuries, you must work with them. They only way to improve and move on from an injury is working smartly, listening to your body and any guidance from your doctor or physiotherapist. It is not worth pushing the injury, getting more injured, and then needing to take even more time off.
As blunt as it may be you have to accept your age. Things that you could do when you were in your 20s might just not be possible anymore. And that’s okay! Know that you have nothing to prove, and your only true competition is yourself. This is something I have come to terms with, it’s just a fact!
If you are doing something and it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t! There are numerous factors, including strength level, flexibility limitations, energy, that could affect your performance in a workout. Listen to your body for what feels right and what doesn’t.
Is there a type or part of a workout that you dislike? Figure out why and if it is for the right reasons. Do you dislike stretching because you find it hard or you don’t think you are good at it? You will only get better with practice, so training your mind to practice things that are challenging for you might lead you to improving in this area, which would then help to improve things you enjoy more-- like weight lifting or running.
It is important to know when you need to rest, when you are physically or mentally exhausted, and being honest with yourself it if would be best to take a rest day. Being physically unable to perform an exercise properly due to exhaustion could lead to injury. If you are mentally exhausted and unable to have proper focus on the technique, you are more likely to injure yourself as well.
The barre technique in specific demands much more mental focus than one would assume. On the outside many of the movements are small and appear to be simple, but when performed properly involve the entire body, and demands focus of numerous form points simultaneously. The body is much more capable than it appears and what we often give ourselves credit for. Only with high levels of consistency and persistence is one able to achieve physical and/or workout related gains.
