The benefits of mindfulness can be felt in almost all aspects health and wellness, but recent studies show a direct link between mindfulness and physical activity. If you are not quite sure how to use mindfulness in your workout, here are five components of mindful exercise.
1. Intention
Even before you lift a weight or take a step, your workout routine has begun. That’s because your mental intention, and the awareness you bring to it, really impacts on how effective the exercise will be. Intention is all about mental preparation. It’s your motivation to do the exercise, understanding of its function, preparation of the body to engage, confidence in the required breathing, timing and form, and finally, your commitment to go for it.
2. Breathing
Our muscles need oxygen to move. Deprive them, and we feel tired, tense and nauseated. So, focus on breathing steadily, in for the less strenuous part, out during the most effort, for a high-performance work out that leaves us energized and ready for more.
3. Timing
Rhythm is vital. Whether it’s a nice long stretch or an explosive jump, every exercise has its own inherent tempo to recognize. By using this rhythm to give exercise a natural, flowing, easy style, we can forget robotic, stiff or tense movements, and instead apply the right timing to perform the exercise most effectively.
4. Form
Good form takes exercise across the entire range of movement, targeting every part of the muscle. It can make any exercise a thing of beauty, but is often hard to achieve and maintain, especially when we’re sweating our way through an intense workout. But with focus, it’s possible. Posture and alignment really matter, so we must be aware of them. Think less about reaching the end of the workout, and more about every single muscle movement. This way, the best results from exercise come naturally.
5. Recovery
Whether it’s recovery between workouts or between exercises, an awareness of our physical, emotional and mental well-being during this ‘downtime’ is essential. So don’t switch off. Instead, stay alert and focus on the breath and other physical sensations. Is your breath indicating you could work harder, or that you should ease off? Check you’re not hunching your shoulders; this limits your capacity to take oxygen on-board. Recovery periods are essential for a healthy, well-rested and injury free body. Listen to it, treat it well and give it the rest it needs, and the body will always be ready for more!
Source: https://www.headspace.com/articles/5-components-of...

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