One of the biggest hurdles to effective training is our own mind. Too often we get so caught up in the hectic thoughts in our head that we get distracted from what is really important. Understanding the connection between the body and the mind is a big step in overcoming this and allows us to fully focus on better training habits.
The more we train, the stronger our bodies get. But training the mind is a concept that we usually don't often consider. The benefits of a trained mind, however, can be very helpful in our physical training practice.
The business of daily life can be extremely distracting and often make it quite difficult to realistically remain centered. Ideally we hope that the benefits from the training we do can see us through times when we are unable to train.
Unfortunately, the motivation to train can be severely drained by the problems of the world and the stress they bring. This stress can do a lot of damage to us before we even notice it, such as creating hurdles that hinder the motivation to train. The effect of stress on the mind is something that we may not be fully aware of.
Most of the time we don't even realize the effect stress has on the mind because we are so distracted by the stress to begin with. It scatters our attention and gets us worrying about irrelevant things. We end up with so much to deal with it seems as if there is no time to train.
At the same time stress creates tension in the body. This can another host of difficulties since the proper flow of circulation and energy becomes restricted. Internal blockages manifest as aches and pains in the body. As we lose the precision control over our muscle systems during workouts we can become prone to accidents or injury. When this happens our training suffers, leading to further problems.
The difficulties in the world today are very distracting. It almost seems as if the rules have changed and we are struggling to determine if there are, in fact, any rules at all. One thing we need to be able to count on is our own body and mind. We need to be able to focus on our training.
In order to focus on what we are doing we need to become one with the action we are performing. In Japan there is a word shoshin which means "beginner's mind." This concept is one of imagining you are starting your training over from the beginning.
As a beginner, the first time you do something you have to concentrate on it in order to do it correctly. You must pay full attention to the practice or it can quickly become ineffective or even dangerous. The action of paying attention to what you are doing brings your mind into alignment with your body. Once you become comfortable and adept at that practice it is much easier for your mind to disengage from the action and become distracted by other thoughts.
The idea of shoshin is to retain the mindfulness of the beginner even as the practice becomes routine. In this manner you are able to keep your mind focused.
In addition to the beginner mind, we also want to cultivate something the Japanese call mushin which means "no mind." This concept is one of being fully conscious yet not attached to the any specific thought. It leaves the distractions behind and allows us to see things as they truly are.
From mushin we are able to deal with everything in its proper time and place. If we are able to cultivate mushin then whatever we are doing becomes the most important thing and we are fully and completely engaged in it. From a training point of view this is the method for gaining the maximum benefit from the time we spend working out.
The most helpful practice to cultivate both shoshin and mushin is meditation. Many people hesitate at this suggestion, because meditation can conjure up all sorts of strange behavior. Fortunately the meditation practice I am talking about is simply taking a few minutes a day to sit in silence and allow the mind to settle down. This practice is not about stopping thoughts. Instead, it is simply putting some space between the thoughts and allowing them to calm. It is not always easy, but this type of training is vital because when the mind is distracted, there is no connection to the body.
When there is no connection, the mind tends to become overly attached to the body causing reactions to become hesitant and unbalanced.
In just the same fashion as our physical workouts, the more we train our mind the sharper it becomes. Like sharpening the blade of a sword, the more we practice, the clearer our mind becomes, allowing us to focus more completely on our physical training.
Training the mind in this way can be quite a challenge. There are many distractions and until meditation becomes an integral part of what we do it is easy to let it slide. While we may understand the concept of meditation intellectually, putting aside time to practice is often difficult. Nevertheless, the clarity of thought that meditation provides is something vital to our training that we should not be without. It brings us fully into the present moment.
The practice of meditation needs to be something we realize is an important aspect to our training as a whole even when we feel that it is not doing anything for us.
If sitting meditation is simply not possible there are certain physical arts that can assist in reaching the meditative state through a form of moving meditation. Tai Chi, Qigong and Zen Yoga all incorporate meditation into their practice and can be of great benefit.
When we exist fully in the present moment we are embodying our trained selves. Like moving in stereo, the body and mind become a single flowing entity. By following the same rhythm, each compliments the other. We are able to react without thought or hesitation. Our reactions are perfectly appropriate depending on the situation, neither too strong nor too weak. This is the true meaning of body and mind connection.
The study of shoshin and mushin will enable you to spend less time on your thinking so that you will be able to train more. This is invaluable to anyone who truly wants that subtle edge to excel at their physical workouts.
Aaron Hoopes is the founder of Zen Yoga - Website: artofzenyoga.com artofzenyoga.com
Aaron writes the Wandering Sage Wisdom Blog
wanderingsagewisdom.blogspot.com wanderingsagewisdom.blogspot.com
Books by Aaron Hoopes
-Perfecting Ourselves: Coordinating Body, Mind and Spirit
-Breathe Smart: The Secret to Happiness, Health and Long Life
-Zen Yoga: A Path to Enlightenment through Breathing, Movement and Meditation
-Catch the Cat - ebook for children
-Update:Japan - travel guide
DVD by Aaron Hoopes
-The Zen Yoga Daily Warm-Up DVD
CD by Aaron Hoopes
-Inner Sunrise Guided Meditation CD
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