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Originally Posted by Keith I'm looking at working both (more) exercise and meditation into my routine and I was wondering: how do they interact?
If I meditate then exercise will the exertion disrupt the peaceful state induced by meditation?
If I exercise then meditate, will that reduce or remove the benefit of increased metabolic rate? Or will it make it really hard to meditate?
Also, what do you think are the best times of day to meditate? (I know opinion differs on the best time to exercise).
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I feel that meditation and exercise complement each other in similar ways. Some benefits of meditation are improved concentration, patience, and attunement to your body(esp. breath). The same could easily be said of exercise. A stronger mind creates a stronger body and vice versa.
Meditation is good for your moods too, so your body will heal faster and be more healthy. It's been proven that meditation can be as good as antidepressant drugs in some cases.
Unless you are a very advanced meditator, you probably don't have to worry about your metabolic rate. Personally, I like "riding the high" after a work out. It's like I get a mental charge that allows me to concentrate like no other part of the day. To me, faster metabolism means healthier body, which means healthier brain, which means less distractions in meditation.
Traditionally, the best times to meditate are either in the early morning after you wake up, or late at night before you sleep. In the morning you benefit from having a completely still and rested mind. That way you are not so easily distracted by the stresses of everyday life because they haven't hit you yet. In the evening, meditation provides a way for you to release the accumulated stress and sleep with a still mind. I do both when I have the time. I usually work out in the evening, then meditate, then relax in bed until I fall asleep, usually in the same state gained in my meditation.