Moving Intentionally
Moving intentionally to strengthen your attention.
We all know the profound effects movement and breath can have on your mental health, on your body, on your energy, but did you know that it also has a great effect on your ability to focus.
It is crucial to tap in on what fuels a powerful mindset into being productive, energized and inspired. By looking on uniting energy inwards; finding your breath, feeling your muscles and waking up the spine you can discover that central resolve.
To put it simply I call it intentionally moving; a beautiful combination of breath and movement, commonly found with in Yoga & Pilates, but certainly not limited too.
Just a simple way of moving to enhance your brains capability and your bodies function and its all about a tiny change in perspective to unlock the power of moving with intention.
First of all, movement is energy and the more you move the more energised you will feel, all it takes is a 15-minute session of movement that gets your blood pumping for your body to produce more energy on a cellular level through neuroplasticity. Its bloody beautiful proven science; the brain has the ability to improve itself with increased blood flow and levels of brain derived protein. By moving intentionally, we also trigger the release of those gorgeous endorphins and serotonins which improve the prioritizing functions of the brain as well as happiness. Improving your ability to sort out priorities, allowing you to block out distractions and be more positive
Basically, movement is the “Miracle Gro” for your brain!
So, with that being a no brainer,
· Combinations; following short combinations of movement and moving your body efficiently through space improves brain function and boosts memory, again linked to neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form new neural connections to change and adapt. But also, on a more emotional level flowing through choreography, it allows you to shut off from the outside world and revel in the moment… you can’t be thinking about what your cats’ best friends having for dinner when you are mid performance! And this attentiveness boosts concentration, clarity and creativity.
· Mind muscle connection; Finding the connection to activate and stabilise muscles that contribute to a pose/posture/asana. By ‘switching on’ or with large and smaller muscle groups you are providing the body with switched-on postural alignment. Keeping you alert, focused and decreasing the wandering mind.
· Isolations; Holding moves/asanas in isolation or balance has an incredible calming effect on the brain helping with anxiety. Again, it comes back to single focus, when holding a position- we have a moment of stillness both for the mind and body and that equates to a forced tranquillity (even if it is burning your quads!)
And lastly but oh so importantly breath!
Have you noticed that when you need to concentrate, we tend to hold our breath? Try threading a needle and breathing at the same time, it just doesn’t work. Breath is the pinnacle of our focus and by homing in on that to start a workout, starts of a gorgeous chain of attention and emphasis on the current. Breathing to concentrate on your breathing turns into breathing to concentrate on your posture, your muscles, your movement… and after that flame has been lit it keeps on burning. Deep breathing releases Noradrenaline into the bloodstream enhancing your attention to detail and improves overall brain health by promoting the growth of new neural connections.
Completing even a short 15 minute workout moving in this way – with intention, is enough to improve your focus for the rest of the day.
The simple formula is
Combinations of movement
Mind muscle connection
Isolations - find stillness
Breathe deeply
I would love to hear what you think and how you get on with this, you can catch me over on Instagram @Amphibious_Fit or www.amphibiousfit.com
So much love, J x
