Greetings dear ones of the WNYMMA community! Coach Hanna here with your weekly Mindfulness Moment. This week will be focusing on intuition and the genuine importance of listening to your body in the gym atmosphere.

The topic: INTUITION

First of all… what is intuition?

Intuition is our sixth sense and it is your guide. It is the instinctive feeling you experience in your being before contemplating conscious reasoning. It’s the “gut feeling” that steers you.

Our intuition is our best kept secret for survival and success.
And comes in very handy when working out!

How do we use our intuition?

There are going to be days at the gym when you are feeling on top of the world conquering any action you’re instructed to perform whether that’s a striking combo, interval reps, or a Judo throw etc. This is when we are blissfully surprised with our gut feeling informing us that we can push even harder than we believed of ourselves… take advantage of that! That is the motion of progress!

Then there are days where we just ain’t feeling it. That we’ve made the effort to get to the gym, but push ups is the last thing our more fragile state can take. And that is aaaall good!

Train smart by listening to your body

Essentially, your body is a machine that you’ve been gifted and it is your responsibility to take care of it. And overtraining is a very real thing. Thinking in terms of sustainability, you gotta do what is right for you! No matter how many athletic accomplishments you achieve or fitness goals you are pursuing, your body has one main wish and that is survival. Survival from injury, chronic pain etc.

Your intuition is your inner guide in the gym. So for you, this might mean taking it easier in the gym and not pushing so hard on a lower energy day. For example: instead of doing push-ups in plank position, allow yourself to drop your knees and finish off your push-ups that way. Again, it is okay.

We’ve got your back!

Yes, us coaches will always be there to motivate you to perform in class. Regardless, you’re the one living in your body with its experience so communication with us works wonders for your not-so-energetic days 🙂 I’ve had people in my classes inform me that they just aren’t feeling it that day and would rather skip out and I 100% support them. Some days we have physical challenges, other days mental or emotional challenges and it is really important that you honor your Self every day. Self compassion for the win!

WNYMMA is a fitness space with a focus on community. That is why mind-body fitness is a prominent feature in the gym. The team understands the importance of balance and addressing the mind-body connection for the longevity of your physical being.

Below is a video to help further explain intuition 🙂

So next time you are feeling like you need to push yourself to prove something, remember that burnout is the lock and balance is the key.

Train smart!

Til next week,

Hanna
Life Coach and Pilates Instructor
Fitness Coach at WNYMMA