“Endurance is one of the most difficult disciplines, but it is to the one who endures that the final victory comes.” – Buddha
For all sports athletes, being able to withstand the physical demands is one way of achieving success. Developing muscular endurance will allow you to perform activities for longer before fatigue sets in. If you ever wanted to run a little further, hike an incline a little longer or jump for that rebound in the last minutes of a basketball game, boosting your muscular endurance will benefit those types of situations.
Endurance training is important for many sports – not just the pure distance events like running, swimming and cycling, every sport does. Strong, healthy muscles will help you go the distance, no matter what you participate in.
However, physical endurance and strength aren’t enough to succeed. Mental toughness is what really brings athletes to end a race. According to Former Professional Boxer Muhammad Ali, “Champions aren’t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them: a desire, a dream, a vision”. The ability for an athlete to control their mental and emotional elements, critique task performances as well as creating a mindset for confidence and well-being is dominant for athlete’s performance. Mindset is also your view of how your perceive reality. Read this article to learn more.
MINDSET IMPROVES ENDURANCE
Many athletes naturally develop strategies for resisting the urge to quit. But the best competitors take extra care to their brains, focusing their minds as much as they do on their muscles. According to Andy Lane, a sports psychologist, “The signal to slow down is hardwired, and there’s no good reason for it when you’re running out of energy and the body is burning more fuel that it can give to the brain.” The key to success in endurance endeavor “is learning to ignore the signal and replace it with something else.”
This is the reason why Elite Athletes and sports programs, from Super Bowl XLVIII champs, the Seattle Seahawks, to Olympic snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler, are incorporating mindfulness, meditation, yoga, flow and other practices into their training regimen. By learning to stay focused on the present moment and strengthen the mind-body connection, these competitors aim to unlock a new edge on their competition.
THE MENTAL LINK
In any competitive situation, it’s only natural that your adrenaline starts to pump. You heart beats faster. Your palms get sweaty. You feel butterflies on your stomach. But when you toe the line for a big race or you’re in the middle of a high-stake game, are you able to stay connected with the present moment? Are you still in the zone? Are you able to maintain your flow? Or does your mind flood with thoughts of previous errors or jump ahead to future outcomes like a missed goal or slow finish time?
TRAIN YOUR BRAIN
I already explained earlier why mindset improves endurance and why it’s important to control your mindset in every sports you are in. Now I’m gonna explain few steps on how to train your mind to focus on the present moment and weed out distractions.
- Mindful Breathing – Take a few minutes a day (in the morning or before you perform your sports/training) to pay attention to your breathing, which can bring a calm and clear state of mind. Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and start to deepen your breath. Inhale fully and exhale completely.
- Body Scan – Practice body scan to help release tension, quiet the mind, and bring awareness to your body in a systematic way. Lie down on your back with your palms facing up and legs relaxed. Close your eyes. Start with your toes and notice how they feel. Focus your attention here for a few breaths before moving on to the sole of your foot. Repeat the process for the other parts of your body. Breathe into any areas that are holding stress and try to release it. Through performing this regularly, you will become more highly in tuned to what’s happening on your body.
- Control your subconscious mind – Pay attention to your internal self as well as the stories you tell your family and friends, which can reflect – or even shape – your mental state more than you might think. Notice your thoughts and emotions, but don’t judge them or become attached to them.
Good News: You can now perform these 3 steps to train your mind through hacking your flow state! Perform mindful/diaphragmatic breathing, scan your body and control your subconscious mind through a single workout lead by yours truly. Simply fill up the form with your name and email and expect my words on your inbox! Try it now!
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These practices can help lower stress levels, connect with the present moment, and create a more resilient mind while maintaining your endurance. It can also lead to a better performance. Game on!
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