The Mind-Body Connection: The Meditation Matrix

Image credit: Institute for Integerative Nutrition

As a former competitive athlete, I was uniquely aware of the mind-body connection, or was I? Whether in training or racing, if my head was not in the game, the battle was sometimes lost - I’m looking at your Berlin Marathon 2019!

At a young age, my swim coach led me through visualization exercises where we went through our entire race, start to finish. I could see the pool, my swim lane, and the clock. I could hear the starting gun go off, the feel of the water, the strength of my body and my splits populating on the timing board at every turn. I visualized key races so many times that when race day arrived, I was totally relaxed because I had been preparing myself, both physically and mentally, for months. Little did I know, I was actually meditating.

But what about when we are facing a work challenge, dealing with an injury, or simply navigating the stress of our daily lives? Research has shown that just a few minutes of meditation every day can reduce stress, improve mental clarity and energy, and foster creativity. Not sure how or where to start? There are several meditation apps available to guide you through short or long meditations, or do a quick online search to try out a free class from someone in your city or across the country. Start with just a few minutes and if it feels good to you, build to longer sessions. As always, you do you ❤️

Share in the comments below your favorite mediation apps or any tips that you used to start your meditation practice.