Life and Leisure

It is time to visualize a newer, fitter you

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-10-29 11:26

Do you doubt your progress in your workout programs? Try visualization. It is an important step towards keeping motivated. You need to direct your mind with positive emotions and thoughts before starting your fitness activities.

Convince yourself that all your fitness goals are attainable. If you feel a bad mood coming or if your thoughts are full of negative feelings, take a deep breath and overcome the psychological setbacks.

Here are some great tools to help you experience the peace and joy in any fitness program.

Vigorous breathing: Sit comfortably in a quiet place, keeping your head and spine straight. Close your eyes and take a deep breath, inhale and exhale gently from your nose, while keeping your mouth closed. After a while, go up the next level and inhale and exhale quickly. Keep doing this eight to 10 times and try to connect your mind with your body through breathing. Do not try more than 10 times in the beginning.

Interval training: It is a form of exercise that involves bursts of high intensity activity with periods of rest or low intensity. For example, add brief periods of a slower jog into your brisk walking. Your mind will be motivated to reach your fitness target, and your thoughts will focus on the present.

Circuit training: Practice five or six sets of exercises one after another with a short or no break in-between. This is effective for developing concentration.

Always keep your mind away from negative feedback in your fitness development. Do not be discouraged - be assertive and stay on track. Always remember the saying: "Be master of the mind rather than be mastered by the mind."

As always, consult a doctor before starting any exercise routine.

Harish Gurjar is the assistant director of activities and entertainment at the Hyatt Regency Jing Jin City Resort and Spa, Tianjin.

China Daily