How many times do you begin your workouts with an internal body scan? Do you breathe and feel how your body is doing in that particular moment? Do you take a few minutes to get in touch with your own body and then start your workout from an informed perspective?
If you do, then you know that this is maybe the most important part of a workout or training session.
If you do not, then it is time to start exercising your body in a more conscious manner. At this point, you might ask why such a step is necessary or even dismiss it from the start as a waste of time and stop reading the remainder of the article. If you feel compelled to do just that, I will ask you to remember a time when you got injured during a workout or a running or cycling session.
With the understanding that learning to listen to the physical body is of utmost importance for everyday life, general health and well being, learning to do a body scan is of equal importance. Knowing what feels tight, weak or out of alignment before engaging in any physical activity will influence the workout routine, its duration, and its intensity.
Working out within the paradigm of respect and cooperation with the body will lead to faster results. Most importantly, working out while understanding the signals and messages coming from the body will prevent most of the injuries acquired due to lack of awareness.
In the next post I will guide you through a body scan.