Dec 21

11 proven ways to build mental strength for better running

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Training your mind in tandem with your body is the key to easier running and better performances The language and advice around training for endurance sports tends to be dominated by physical factors – increasing your strength, improving your lactate threshold or your VO2 max. But seeing the mind and the body as one system provides a better strategy for improving, and working on improving your mental strength alongside your physical fitness will definitely reap the benefits when it comes to your running performance.   The research on mental strength and running In a 2010 paper, Professor Samuele Marcora, from the University of Bologna, Italy, and Walter Staiano, from the University of Valencia, Spain, challenged the assumption that physical exhaustion was the key limiter in exercise performance and introduced the concept of training by ‘psychobiological’ principles. In their study, a group of cyclists were still able to produce short periods of higher intensity effort even after reaching a point of physical exhaustion. Their research showed that our exercise tolerance is a balance between how hard we find an activity (our rate of perceived exertion or RPE) versus how motivated we are for that activity. Other studies by Marcora have explored […]
Dec 18

How a Strong Mind-Muscle Connection Can Take Your Workouts to the Next Level

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Focusing on how your muscles are operating during your strength-training workouts can help make your movements more effective.   Oftentimes, a workout can be your one chance to let your mind go totally blank. After spending an entire day thinking about problems at work, at school, and in your personal life, a solo gym session spent powering through biceps curls and lunges — all while zoning out to the latest Taylor Swift album — can feel truly restorative. But you may not want to shut your brain down completely. In order to level up your performance and make gains, you’ll need to pay close attention to how your muscles are contracting, lengthening, and moving throughout your strength-training practice. In other words, you’ll want to build up and tap into your mind-muscle connection.   The Mind-Muscle Connection, Explained You may not realize it, but while performing any sport or physical activity, your mind either zeros in on what’s occurring in the external environment around you (e.g. the songs blasting through the gym speakers, the trees you jog past while on an outdoor run) or what’s happening within your own body (e.g. muscle fatigue, your breath, any pain). This concentration on your […]
Dec 15

Tips To Manage ADHD In Adults: 6 Boundaries You Must Set For Your Mental Health

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Do you suffer from ADHD? Here are 6 signs that you are not setting healthy boundaries that will help you cope with the condition.   Signs You Are Not Setting Healthy Boundaries A huge part o dealing and coping with ADHD is setting healthy boundaries. If you do not ensure this, it may take a huge toll on your mental health, your self-esteem and confidence and it may also eventually impact your physical health.   Learn To Say No Learn to say no. You should not fear to say no to others fearing how they might react or what they might think.   Ask For Help Do not wait for other people to fulfil your needs. Human beings are not mind readers so if you need help with anything, you should teach yourself to communicate better.   Value Your Emotions Every person has feelings and emotions and it is normal to show them. Do not act like things do not bother you.   Intimacy Do not be intimate with people if you do not want to be. It is a dangerous act if you force yourself to be physically intimate with someone. This is a very important boundary to set […]
Dec 12

Regular exercise changes the brain to improve memory, thinking skills

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There are plenty of good reasons to be physically active. Big ones include reducing the odds of developing heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Maybe you want to lose weight, lower your blood pressure, prevent depression, or just look better. Here’s another one, which especially applies to those of us (including me) experiencing the brain fog that comes with age: exercise changes the brain in ways that protect memory and thinking skills. In a study done at the University of British Columbia, researchers found that regular aerobic exercise, the kind that gets your heart and your sweat glands pumping, appears to boost the size of the hippocampus, the brain area involved in verbal memory and learning. Resistance training, balance and muscle toning exercises did not have the same results. The finding comes at a critical time. Researchers say one new case of dementia is detected every four seconds globally. They estimate that by the year 2050, more than 115 million people will have dementia worldwide.   Exercise and the brain Exercise helps memory and thinking through both direct and indirect means. The benefits of exercise come directly from its ability to reduce insulin resistance, reduce inflammation, and stimulate the release of […]
Dec 09

Dos and don’ts to keep in mind when you start hitting the gym

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Starting a gym routine is a fantastic way to improve your health, fitness, and overall well-being. It can be an excellent opportunity to challenge yourself physically, increase your strength, and build your confidence. However, it’s important to remember that starting a gym routine can be overwhelming, especially if you’re new to exercising or haven’t been physically active in a while. There are several dos and don’ts to keep in mind to ensure that you have a safe and effective workout experience. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned gym-goer, these tips will help you get the most out of your workouts and achieve your fitness goals.   Dos and don’ts for first-time gym goers: Rihana Qureshi, Certified Nutritionist and Strength Training Coach, shared some important dos and don’ts you should keep in mind when starting your gym routine.   1. Start with cardio Start with a light cardio workout, such as walking on the treadmill for 15-20 minutes, if you have never worked out before. Once you are comfortable with that, increase your pace. This way, keep increasing the time and intensity till you can run and walk for a total of 30-35 mins without feeling drained.   2. Move […]
Dec 06

What celebrity trainers want you to know about getting fit

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When you see your favorite actors looking fit on the red carpet, you might think their fitness level is unattainable for most regular folks — reserved only for those with opulent lifestyles and endless resources that seemingly add more hours to each day. But that’s not quite the reality. In fact, according to their trainers, most celebrities face many of the same issues as the rest of us when trying to prioritize wellness amid the responsibilities of daily life. To dispel the myths and provide practical advice anyone can use, I tapped five of my celebrity trainer friends to help share tips we wish everyone knew to improve their overall fitness.   Fitness is a balancing act for everyone Like many people, celebrities also struggle with the demands of work and homelife schedules when trying to stay fit. As a mobility and strength coach who works in professional sports, I can attest that even famous athletes, whose careers depend on their bodies, face the challenge of balancing family and fitness. When players return home after their seasons end, it’s not an easy task to maintain normal family life while trying to preserve their elite athlete physiques. These pros need to […]
Dec 03

What Type of Exercise Is Best for Mental Health?

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A large new study looks at how exercise can help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression.   When you head to your weekly yoga class or lift weights at the gym, you’re doing something good for your physical health: getting more fit today, and so protecting your body into the future. What you may not always think about, though, is that you’re also protecting yourself from anxiety and depression—about as much as you would be if you were going to therapy or taking medication. At least that’s the conclusion of a very large new study that synthesizes decades of research on exercise and mental health. The study doesn’t just provide this key insight—in fact, the researchers were also able to identify what kind of exercise and how much of it is best for mental health.   How body supports mind Researchers analyzed the results from more than 1,000 randomized controlled trials—one of the strongest types of studies. These experiments, with over 128,000 participants, had compared exercise to standard treatments like simply learning about fitness or getting help setting goals. The participants engaged in a variety of physical activities, from yoga and tai chi to aerobics and dance to strength training. […]
Nov 30

Not just mind & body, experts say yoga can prevent and help manage chronic diseases

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The popularity of yoga has grown tremendously in the past decade. More than 10% of U.S. adults have practised yoga at some point in their lives. Yoga practitioners spend on average US$90 a month, and the yoga industry is worth more than $80 billion worldwide. Yoga is now a mainstream activity in the U.S. and is commonly portrayed as a healthy lifestyle choice. I am a behavioural scientist who researches how physical activity – and specifically yoga – can prevent and help manage chronic diseases. Many people attribute improvements in their physical and mental health to their yoga practice. But until recently, research had been sparse on the health benefits of yoga. As the body of rigorous research on yoga grows, more and more work is showing the many health benefits of a yoga practice.   What is yoga? The name “yoga” is derived from the Sanskrit word “Yuj” meaning to unite, join or connect the mind, body and soul. The first text on yoga was written by the sage Patanjali over 2,000 years ago in India. Patanjali described yoga as “citta-vrtti-nirodhah,” or “stilling the mind.” This was achieved through a mix of breath work, meditation, physical movement and body […]
Nov 26

How to Quiet a Racing Mind to Get Better Sleep

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If you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, try these strategies to quiet your mind and get the rest you need.   A racing mind at bedtime can be hard to quiet. Whether it’s stopping you from quickly falling asleep or staying asleep, there’s no question an unsettled mind can really affect your ability to get a good night’s rest. “It’s one of the most common problems we hear in our sleep clinic, especially among people struggling with insomnia,” says Lawrence Chan, DO, a professor of sleep medicine at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. Racing thoughts at bedtime can contribute to sleep problems in people who have insomnia, according to one study. The researchers noted that this is different than rumination, which is defined as obsessive, repetitive thinking that tends to focus on negative content. There’s a reason many people can’t stop thinking about things before going to bed. Whether you’re exploring a new city or simply plugging away at your routine to-do list, your brain is collecting new information all day long, explains Michael Breus, PhD, a clinical psychologist in Manhattan Beach, California, who specializes in sleep disorders. “Not until you climb into bed […]
Nov 23

Tips to keep your brain young at all ages

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Every single activity that the human body performs takes its orders from the brain   When it comes to looking young, fit and healthy, we often hit gyms and parlours. But what about brain health? Every single activity that the human body performs takes its orders from the brain. From coordinating balance, controlling the voluntary actions and responding towards the emotions to problem-solving techniques, the human brain is responsible to take care of all the actions. Maintaining physical health is important but taking care of the brain is equally necessary. Taking cognisance of these facts, the discourse around brain health has increased in the recent past. Good brain health is a key to a long and healthy life. It is a state where faculties of the brain such as reaction time, memory and judgement work efficiently. So here are some tips you can follow to maintain your brain health with the impact of ageing.   Brain exercises: physical exercise is great for both body and mind but challenging yourself for mental exercise can improve your brain functioning. Research shows that brain exercises can help in generating new nerve cells. Leading physicians say that reading, crossword puzzles and word problems all contribute […]
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