Why you have to focus while exercising. How many time have you been to the gym only to see people mindlessly watching television or reading a book while they exercise?

I see this all the time and while it’s probably better than not making an effort to workout, are these people really maximizing their time at the gym?

When I used to teach Pilates we spoke a lot about the mind body connection, so if we are focusing on something other than our bodies what is actually happening while we work out? Honestly, not too much or rather, definitely not enough.

I could always tell when people were just going through the motions trying to make the exercises look pretty, instead of actually doing them properly. It was obvious that they weren’t using their muscles and our (the instructor’s) greatest battle was to have clients engage the right muscles.

WHY YOU HAVE TO FOCUS WHILE EXERCISING

Concentrate on improving your technique. I know that a workout can be unpleasant and hard, especially when you aren’t really into it on any given day, but if you are letting your focus shift away from what you are doing, not only won’t you get the most out of your workout, but you also risk injuring yourself.

When you aren’t distracted, your muscles actually get a deeper and more effective workout because their movement begins with your brain.

Consider an exercise like squats. Don’t worry about adding extra weight, just go do a few. Now do them again but really focus on squeezing your glutes and engaging your abdominal muscles. Right away you’ll feel much more of a burn.

Be in the moment. Instead of reading, thinking about your day or losing yourself in a television program picture your muscles contracting and you’ll be increasing the intensity of your workout, it’s just that simple.

When you workout, be mindful and in the moment and pretty soon you’ll find that your workouts are getting easier and you are getting stronger. For exercises like plank or push-ups really pay attention to what each muscle is doing. During activities like running, where it’s easy to space out, concentrate on your form. Are your shoulders relaxed, is your gait steady? Keep asking yourself these questions.

A workout should be a stepping stone. Don’t think of your workout as a finale, but rather as a step toward a goal you want to achieve. You aren’t working out just for the sake of working out but rather, it’s a tool you need to get where you want to go. Ask yourself where you want to be next year, in five years or even in ten years.

This is why I enjoy taking ballet classes so much. Sure I know I’m never going to be accepted into a dance company but it’s a goal I can be working toward. I had the same feeling when I was taking boxing classes from a pro. He trained us to think of ourselves as professional athletes. We were never allowed to just go through the motions. Each movement was done with intention and purpose.

Find the workout that makes you think this way and you’ll find that not only are you more focused, but you’ll probably also garner greater enjoyment from participating in it, which will keep you coming back for more.

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