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If you’ve ever been to a yoga class, you’ve probably heard of the ‘mind-body connection.’ It’s one of those terms that is both intuitive and confusing at the same time. We’re here to break it down for you: what is the mind-body connection, and why does it matter?
According to theNational Cancer Institute, mind-body exercises are any form of activity that involves body movement, mental focus, and controlled breathing to improve strength, balance, flexibility, and overall health. This means that a lot of your favorite workouts use the mind-body connection, such asweight-lifting,hot girl walks, andyoga.
So, why do mind-body connection workouts matter? Exercise is an enormous stress reliever because it allows our minds to use our bodies as an outlet to release tension that we feel. It also strengthens our minds because we are focusing on pushing ourselves to be our best in our workouts. Overall,mind-body exercises help us unlock our full physical and mental potential and strengthen our overall well-being.
Convinced? Here are some mind-body connection workouts that will help you strengthen your mind and tone your body!
Workouts to Strengthen Your Mind-Body Connection
Boxing forces you to focus on throwing combos instead of how hard you're working.
We all have days when we want to take out our frustration on a punching bag. As it turns out, boxing is one of the best sports for releasing tension, focusing your mind, and challenging your body.
If you’ve ever taken a kickboxing class, you know that it half the challenge comes from remembering all the combos while you’re sweating it out. In addition to a heart-pumping cardio workout, boxing also requires you to focus on throwing punches and combos. This attention will strengthen your hand-eye coordination over time, which can help with other mind-body exercises.
Boxing can also have an amazing cathartic effect on stress. It’s not surprising that punching it out can help you release tension you feel in everyday life. If you stick with it long enough, boxing can even help you improve your mood overall! Go ahead and strap on your boxing gloves.
Yoga is a world-renowned exercise for calming your mind and toning your body.
Yoga is one of the most common and effective exercises to tune into your mind and body. But why does yoga specifically help you strengthen your mind body connection?
One of the things that sets yoga apart from other sports or exercises is that you need to synchronize your breath with the movements. By simply timing your movements with your inhales and exhales, you can tap into a meditative state and be present in each pose. This will help you hold challenging poses and mentally attune to your body’s needs.
Another difference between yoga and other workouts is that yoga instructors pay special attention to their students’ mental states. In yoga, you are encouraged to use the poses to release tension or stress and honor any feelings that arise during the practice.
When you play basketball, you work every muscle in your body - including your mind!
Basketball is one of the most popular games in the world for a reason. Not only is it a super fun to make new friends, but it also has countless benefits for your physical and mental health.
Playing basketball can improve your concentration and quick decision-making skills. When you’re playing basketball, the fate of the game can be decided in just seconds, which means you need to think and act on your feet.
Basketball will also help you develop better hand-eye coordination skills. You need to adapt to the changing game in basketball and move your hands and feet accordingly. This will help you maintain balance and sink three-pointers play after play.
Playing tennis requires that you think on your feet - and move them - in order to beat your opponent.
Just like basketball, tennis is a fun and social sport that offers a bunch of benefits for your mind and body!
One of the astounding benefits of playing tennis is that it boosts your self-esteem. When compared to people who play other sports, tennis players tend to rank higher in the areas of optimism and positive self-image. This is because it is an incredibly social sport that you can play throughout your life.
Not only do tennis players have high self-esteem, but they also have incredible strategic thinking skills. When you’re on the court, you need to think and act quickly to score points and beat your opponent. This mental exercise helps boost connections in the brain and improve mental alertness over time.
You may forget the steps to a TikTok dance, but you won't forget how much fun you're having!
Dancing won’t just help you grow your views on TikTok. It’s also a great way to boost your confidence and even prevent cognitive decline.
Dancing is one of the most fun exercises that you can do. It’s social, fun, and a great way to feel confident about your body. Whether you’re learning a choreographed dance or just moving to the beat, dancing can help you express yourself, improve your self-esteem, and feel more confident in your body.
Believe it or not, dancing is also effective in preventing cognitive decline. Memory is an important factor in the development of dementia, and learning new dances is a great way to improve your muscle memory. This will ultimately strengthen your mind-body connection and decrease your chances of developing dementia as you get older.
The mind-body connection is important because it helps you feel more grounded as you move your body. There are plenty of ways to exercise your mind and body, and we want to see you working it in your Gold Elite gear! Tag us on Instagram at @goldeliteapparel to show us how you boost your mind-body connection.
Miranda Risser is a freelance health & fitness writer based in South Carolina. When she’s not writing, Miranda can be found chipping away at her to-be-read pile, testing out new recipes, or logging miles with her two mini Australian Shepherds.