Physical Exercise Before or After Meditation

[Meditative]

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?

[Artisticwatching]

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

[stillpointdancer]

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.

[Meditative]

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]

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.