Author Topic: Physical Exercise Before or After Meditation  (Read 3455 times)

Meditative

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Physical Exercise Before or After Meditation
« on: July 10, 2016, 10:53:25 PM »
Hi I want to know anybodies experience with physical exercise and meditation. Do they work in synergy for you? I myself like to do moderate to intense exercise (weightlifting, jogging, sprinting) for at least 20 minutes before I sit. It helps ground me in my body and release stress especially when I turn the exercise into a moving meditation. On top of that the cocktail of endorphins are very relaxing and gets me into the right state for sitting meditation.

I haven't done much meditation before an exercise session, but the couple times I did I felt more present and focused when doing the movements resulting in a better workout. What are your guys' experiences?
« Last Edit: July 10, 2016, 10:54:57 PM by Meditative »

Artisticwatching

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Re: Physical Exercise Before or After Meditation
« Reply #1 on: July 14, 2016, 04:08:03 AM »
Hi Meditative

Yes I agree that I often find it easier to calm into meditation, but usually only after jogging. I find if i do a heavy weight session my mind can get trapped in a negative spiral about my life.

Alex
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stillpointdancer

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Re: Physical Exercise Before or After Meditation
« Reply #2 on: July 14, 2016, 01:15:04 PM »
There are yoga sessions at the Buddhist centre I go to, which end a few minutes before the meditation sessions begin. A number of people find the exercises help with their experience of meditation afterwards.
“You do not need to leave your room. Remain sitting at your table and listen. Do not even listen, simply wait, be quiet, still and solitary. The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked, it has no choice, it will roll in ecstasy at your feet.” Franz Kafka

Meditative

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Re: Physical Exercise Before or After Meditation
« Reply #3 on: July 15, 2016, 02:42:31 AM »
Alex- I usually get pretty relaxed after a good lifting session, but I've heard other people say they get depressed after lifting. It could be you're going too hard, which then causes too much fatigue, and that will affect your hormones.. but I don't really know if that's your case. I agree jogging produces very relaxing after effects especially when done mindfully.

stillpointdancer- Thank you for the response. I don't do yoga, but I do regular stretches mindfully before a sitting session and it helps a lot.

p340

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Re: Physical Exercise Before or After Meditation
« Reply #4 on: July 15, 2016, 12:13:43 PM »
For me weight training already is a form of meditation. I usually go alone, concentrate on my breath and body while resting, concentrate on breath & the muscles i want to use for each exercise while training. So i get very "grounded in my body" already, and i enjoy sitting afterwards a lot.

After soccer sessions, which are far more intense, i don't think i could sit. Way too tired! But honestly, i never tried... Same goes for climbing. But with these two, meditating beforehand helps me enjoying them, being calm while aware, having good control over my body, being "good" too.

As for yoga, i love the feeling afterwards. Great place to start meditation. But i nearly never can bring myself through all the physical and psychological pain of a yoga session. And i'm generally a little more careful with mixing in parts of hindu philosophy/technics.
« Last Edit: July 15, 2016, 12:16:26 PM by p340 »

 

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