Meditation & Exercise (and sleep) – Complementary practices that should be part of your weekly workout routine.

Physical activity and mindfulness practice both have established psychological benefits. Exercise combined with mindfulness packs an even more powerful punch.

The body and the mind impact each other, which means maintaining both physical and mental health is essential for a person’s overall well-being. The results of many recent studies suggest that when combined, mindfulness and exercise might offer the most benefits for mental (and obviously, physical) health.

Meditation isn’t a replacement for physical exercise, nor is exercise a substitute for meditation, but it can help to think about them as complementary practices that should be part of your weekly workout routine. Meditation, especially a practice that includes deep breathing, has been shown repeatedly in studies to help manage the stress, anxiety and depression.

Is Exercise a Form of Meditation?

Meditation and exercise have a lot in common despite their perceived differences. Both require people to be fully present and in the moment, and both improve one’s ability to focus. In fact, many people find that they reach a flow state more easily when they’re doing some form of physical activity. Some say exercise can be a form of meditation, or “moving meditation”, because it can create similar chemical and emotional changes in the brain as meditation. Both exercise and meditation can: Improve concentration and creativity, Increase alpha and gamma waves in the brain, Lower cortisol levels, cause mental clarity, and produce more calm and controlled thinking!

Sleep – The Trifecta!

We know that exercise often improves one’s sleep – and so can meditation. People report that meditating before sleep can help you fall asleep faster, sleep longer, and sleep more deeply. It can also improve your overall sleep satisfaction. Whether done before bed or when you wake up, meditation can help you relax, let go of worries, reduce stress, lower your heart rate, and increase melatonin, which helps regulate sleep.

So… want to get the biggest bang for your buck? Start on a meditation practice (any set time during the day/night) along with your exercise practice, THEN see your sleep improve along with your stress level and happy hormones!

Information for this post came from the following websites:

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/exercise-combined-with-mindfulness-improves-mental-health#More-research-on-the-benefits-of-mindfulness-and-exercise-needed

https://www.joydiscovered.com/why-exercise-is-not-a-substitution-for-meditation/