Meditation and Exercise?

[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).

Thanks.

[Iamsuperman]

You can definitely keep the inner peace throughout your exercise.

I enjoy meditating first thing when i get up and last thing when i go to bed. It helps me sleep and it is when you are free of problems, demands and things to do that normally occur during the day so you're not as distracted.

[Truefire]

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).

Thanks.

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.

[Uplift]

I tend to agree with meditating first thing in the day, especially if starting out. That's if its a Spiritual meditation. It not only makes it easier, due to less distractions, but it also reinforces the importance of, and faith in, Spirit, and exerts Self control over the external experiences. To end the meditation, it is also a good time to visualise wordly choices. Spirit can then work its 'magic' in daily affairs. Later, when focus is better, Spiritual meditation needs to be practised anytime, in any situation, to improve focus under any circumstances. One thing I notice, and took ages to 'realise', or learn myself, is what meditating really means. How beautiful, amazing, and awesome is it to 'surrender', or choose and express/experience what it is that makes everything and anything possible. What it is that is never ending, perfect, overall fulfilment, wanting for nothing, needing nothing, yet capable of anything... fearless, pure good. Choosing the primal state of the amasing best for all. How can meditating on that be anything but deluxe? No need to strain, worry, struggle, just keep choosing, surrendering to that choice, allowing it fully. The funny thing is, some people 'get it' virtually instantly.

Exercise's effect can depend on the type, and way you do it. I train for maximum testosterone levels, so after a workout isn't easy for me to meditate. I understand why monks, guru's and so on advocate the diets and lifestyles they do. They lower testosterone, making it easy to control thoughts and emotions. Race horse owners know all about the effects of diet and training on their 'spirited' charges. So it is something to think about. Ideally the meditative state becomes easier and easier in all situations, but until then, I know it matters what type of exercise you do and when you do it.

[ginkgo]

I ate watermelon and then had cantelope. Is that the right order or should it have been the other way around? That is like your question. You only need to worry about increased metabolism if you are fat. Also if you are interested in Losing Weight, you can do bodybuilding and gain muscle and burn more calories 24/7.

History shows that they work great together. Sleeping and intense activity also work great together. The Shaolin monks did lots of martial arts like karate and lots of meditation. The purpose of the yoga postures is to make the body healthy and fit so the person will be fine doing many hours of meditation. Again both sleep and exercise are good for the body.

Read the short article called What is Enlightenment on that webpage. It tells how Jet Li does meditation. Also it has a great deal of info on how well yoga, martial arts and meditation work together. It even has quotes from top psychologists about this. All of them require concentration. After the cantolope, I ate goji berries. You will learn from the psychologists that people can feel very peaceful states during intense activities like sports. As far as the best time to meditate, there is only one time that you can meditate. That is right now. You cannot meditate in the future.

[Keith]

I am fat. That's why I don't want to do anything that would reduce the fat-burning benefits of exercise.

[Wit and Itch]

I meditate the best when running.
No thinking, I focus on my breathing, on my muscles, road in front of me.

[justfiverules]

For me, a solitary run with a light focus on breathing is a form of meditation.

No mp3 players.

No talking.

Just me and the 10 trillion cells along for the ride ;-)

Check out "Running Within" by Jerry Lynch and Warren Scott.