How I Used Exercise For A Calm Mind

I have always loved exercise back in the day I was a lifeguard, gym instructor, fitness and spinning teacher. Just three years ago I completed my yoga teacher training. For me exercise has always been my go-to if I had a crappy day or something was on my mind. I knew that during my workout or afterwards the mind would be quiet and give me some relief.

What I never knew in all my years of exercising is that if you take the time to actually do mind work it will take you to a new level of calm. For six years I did Ashtanga yoga daily, but I never meditated I was averse to sitting still. I could just about do a minute lying down at the end of the class. I had trained my body to always be moving. In some unconscious way I was probably a bit scared to stop. Do you know what I mean?

The world of the mind was something unknown and I wasn’t about to jump on the train and become one of those full-on yogi people. I was a sporty person that did yoga to stretch out my sore muscles from my running, cycling and CrossFit.

But as I came to a crossroads in my life after a boozy brunch and realised that I didn’t like who I was, and I needed to make changes. I took the step to invest in a group coaching program with my good friend Heidi Jones. In the group I was accountable for all the changes that I wanted to make. I knew it was my mind taking me down a path of no return. So, it was time to start exercising the mind like I had my body.

As luck would have it my yoga teacher was running a competition to encourage everyone to start meditating at the end of each practise. I started using the headspace app for free as they gave you 10 minutes guided. Then I tried with a piece of yoga music which I much preferred as I love music. Then finally after many months of guided I was able to do it in silence.

As I progressed in my practise by using all the mind tips I was learning and meditating after my yoga practise. I finally understood the practise of yoga is so your body is ready for meditation. I had missed out a big chunk of my development by being so adverse. Three years after starting meditation I set myself a goal of doing a 10-day silent retreat which involves full days of meditation and silence. I did my Vipassana (that’s what its called) in Auckland to start of my year of travels. Even my yoga teacher was surprised I had committed to do the full Vipassana, but I completed it and that’s a story for another blog.

Mind work just like running needs you to take small steps every day, you have to run for a minute walk for a minute. Meditation is exactly the same, you’re not going to be good at it straight away but simply taking a small action every day is all you need. Once I started to see the benefits of meditation, a clearer mind, less stress, more focus on things that were important. I began to look for more things.

I became a knowledge hunter trying everything from workshops, books, courses, webinars. I became obsessed with understanding the mind. Like exercise I liked variety and with so much on offer in the mind world I’m still learning today. But everything I learn I share in my Ten Minute Mind Fitness Method Group where I give one workout a week for people to try. I keep it simple and easy for people to follow as I understand everyone has busy lives.

My aim is to help as many people understand the mind and use the techniques, I have learnt to get the perfect mind workout for them. People love to invest in coaches for sport, but a mind coach will take you to another level that you thought was never possible. Trust me I’ve done the work it’s how I was able to quit my corporate job, go travelling and set up my coaching business. What I thought I could never do became easy after using the techniques I’ll share with you and it’s completely free.

Just like you I was avoiding the mind work and getting my happy on through exercise. But trust me when you do a mind workout it’s like opening a door to a brand new you. Someone that can take on anything life can throw at them. Doesn’t that sound good? So just imagine how much better your running, cycling, swimming and training in CrossFit will improve when you have a winning mindset as well. I can see a medal in your future, can’t you?