Inspiration To Exercise When You’re Feeling Lazy
PRESS PLAY!
If you feel like you’re in a bit of a workout slump right now, you’re not alone. These cold weather day can often lead to unmotivated, uninspired times where you lose your get-up-and-go intentions. The good news is, spring is right around the corner!
One of the best ways to feel inspired to exercise when you’re feeling lazy is to give yourself a few moments of clarity by silencing everything around you and listening to a visualization. To get started, press play on this 10-minute visualization to help you be consistent with exercise!
Even elite athletes such as Michael Phelps use visualizations to be successful.
According to Dr. Patrick Porter, “Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time, with a total of 28 medals. Phelps holds the all-time records for Olympic gold medals (23), Olympic gold medals in individual events (13), and Olympic medals in individual events (16).
“Bob Bowman, who’s been Phelps’ coach since he was a teen, taught Phelps visualization as a part of his mental training. Bowman had Phelps watch a ‘mental videotape’ of his races every day before he went to sleep and when he woke up in the morning. Phelps would visualize every aspect of swimming a successful race, starting from his release at the blocks to culminating in a winning celebration.
“However, visualization isn’t just for elite athletes like Phelps, it can be used regularly as a part of your ongoing training program, with significant results.
“This benefit was discovered by physiologist, Edmund Jacobson, when he had subjects visualize certain activities. Using sensitive detection instruments, he discovered subtle, yet very real movements in the muscles. These movements corresponded to the natural movements the muscles would make if they were actually performing the imagined activity.
“Further research revealed, a person who consistently visualizes a certain physical skill, develops muscle memory. This helps them when they physically engage in an activity. A related study, by Australian psychologist Alan Richardson, confirmed the reality of the phenomenon.”
