How to Become Your Best Self

You know that you need to get in plenty of physical exercise for your health’s sake. So you go to spin class, learn kickboxing and invest in a good set of hand weights. But something that is often missed is the need to care for your mental well-being.

Phoning it in with your exercise sessions won’t help your muscles, and it won’t get you the psychological effects that you are looking for. Visualizing the effects that you want to see on your body while performing each move will keep you going toward your ultimate goal.

Most importantly, maintaining this type of mind-body connection helps your spirit to familiarize itself with your physical being, paving the way for a better relationship with the realm whole you.

Knowing how hard you worked, you can feel your physical and spiritual growth when your head is truly in it with you. Additionally,  you can also apply your focusing skills on other aspects of your life such as your job, learning new skills and even become a better listener.

Growing in popularity for a reason, yoga combines some of the best workout effects that you can ask for. It can be physically demanding and exhausting, but it also has a spiritual element that many practitioners find truly life-altering.

In addition to the many body benefits of most types of yoga, many people also notice a sensation of oneness with the universe, which in itself can be incredibly therapeutic. Your mind can become still, allowing you to focus on what your body needs from you.

While different types of yoga have different origins and personal applications, you can choose to do something a bit more generic, and simply use the moves that you feel most comfortable with. You don’t have to get into the deeply spiritual in order to reap the mental and physical benefits.

Take it slowly, research if you need to, and adjust as necessary until you find what works best for you. If you would like to obtain expert advice, there are plenty of yoga studios and instructors available for consultation or classes.

You have probably seen-or experienced-the practice of Lamaze for women who are going to give birth. Lamaze is a form of deep breathing used to calm the mind and help the body to effectively deal with pain and stress. While you may not be planning to bring a new life into the world, you can apply the principles of this method to your own life.

By turning your attention to the practical, life-sustaining act of breathing and away from anything that you may find threatening or anxiety-inducing, you are empowering yourself and strengthen your natural defenses.

Have you ever awakened from a sound sleep and felt the irresistible urge to stretch as hard and as long as you can? There is a very good reason that your muscles crave that elongation. When we stay in the same position for long periods of time, our bodies become stiff and the fluids tend to gather in one place.

Stretching redistributes the fluids, returns keeps the blood flow going and allows the muscles to return to their natural position. This helps to prevent tension and knots all over your body, which can cause limited range of motion and a lessened ability to perform daily activities.

Keeping your body relaxed also has a relaxing effect on the mind. You will notice that you are less likely to feel that “fight or flight” reaction that may have been commonplace for you in the past, which can trigger stress all over.

By keeping things centered, you are more able to face anything with everything you have without losing your cool. As a result, your confidence will shine through and you will find yourself calm even in the toughest situations.