A training ground for life – ‘How exercise training can help us in everyday life’

Train for Life

Developing a regular training pattern in the gym or with any sport has its challenges. The challenges we face within our training are like teachers (the kind that are cruel to be kind). They teach us discipline to build resilience,  to overcome the struggles and to grow.

Throughout my time in regular fitness training, since I was young, I have always found these lessons I have learnt and the development gained has helped me tremendously in life to overcome any challenges that life brings. Without this as a basis I think I would have found these far more difficult.

Without the discipline built in the gym I may likely not have learnt to do the same in other areas of life, it is certain that it has helped in many ways. Regular Training in whichever form you choose also builds your self-confidence and self-belief, I have seen people’s confidence transform from exercising regularly and it also happened to me. Self-confidence and self-belief are two things that without which we will struggle very much in many areas of life. Regular training is in no way a magic pill for this because there are many elements to it, but it certainly helps a lot.

The Energy and Focus you also gain from your training will also help in all other areas of life, whether you are working or studying , you will be able to think much clearer and feel much better due to the increase in energy and concentration. As a result you will be able to get far more done in a shorter space of time, who wouldn’t want this?:)

Because exercise training is initially quiet difficult and to form a regular training pattern takes discipline this builds a strength of mind, we have to learn to persist and be disciplined with our training to reach the results we want to achieve. Persistence is important in training to achieve our goals, without it we would not get there or keep going at all. This is the same with any goal in life, if we do not have persistence we will not get there. The good thing is persistence can be built and exercise training is the perfect training ground to do this.

We always start off small and build up, therefore we learn to adapt and progress  from there you get stronger and stronger. You can apply this principle to any goal and it will then develop your persistence muscle because this way you have broken your large goal down and you then build up from there. Each step has a reward and self belief gets stronger, you will keep going to get to the next step (as long as you want it enough) and so build persistence from within. From there you can then use this strength when you need to, for any goal or task that requires it. You will always keep going because in training you have to.

‘Enjoy the process, then the outcomes simply happen.’  🙏💛💫

Ignite Within

ignite

All real faith and motivation comes from within, situations, people and experiences from the outside can take us to this point but ultimately it is ourselves that drives us to keep going towards any goal, or any important task. This poem is wrote with that purpose, we all have that place within, find it and you’ll be on fire, then nothing will stop you reaching your goal.

Feel the fire come up within you
There is nothing to hold you back
Just believe in yourself and you’ll win

Bring up the force from within you
Believe in yourself, this is true
There is nothing that can hold you back now
Nothing except for you

Feel that force from within you
All is possible from there
There is nothing , or no place stronger
Just believe in yourself and your there

All is possible from here and now,
Listen to that place from within
All you have to do is believe in yourself
There is nothing to stop you from there.

-M.L.Adams

The Keys to Health Recovery

Health Recovery

This Post is specifically for anyone who is in the process of recovery from any long term health condition. I wanted to share my experience and expertise in this particular area to offer some useful insights for those who are on a recovery journey. Having overcome an anxiety condition as a child, and been on the recovery journey from chronic fatigue syndrome I wanted to share some of what I have learnt in this process with you.

The meaning of recovery in this post is not necessarily going back to how you were, but in many ways of becoming more, through a process of learning and change. You can become far more empowered as a person and what you may once have perceived as a really difficult time can turn out to be one of your greatest gifts.

The first key is to remain hopeful from the beginning, without hope you have nothing because you have essentially given up. Whatever prognosis/ outcome you have been told it is important to remain hopeful in your heart. Hopeful of something more and in yourself most of all. Recovery from chronic health conditions is a journey and it can consist of many ups and downs but I firmly believe that as with any challenge in life that there is much you can learn about yourself and life through this experience, If there is any purpose to it at all then it would be that of learning and self reflection.

In the initial stages of being told you have a chronic health condition it is a perfectly normal and understable response to feel anger or frustration at the new limitations that you now feel you have to live with. It is a proccess of change and also of letting go of your previous perceptions and finding new ways to manage as you go through this life transition. The hope you have will then become determination, when you begin to find your way and the lesson in each experience.

‘We never really know what a future outcome will be, but how we live now is what matters most.’

Secondly is that now more than ever your body needs an immunity boost and the the best way to do this is through your diet. Eating wholesome and natural foods is the best way to get the most nutrients out of your diet. A diet high in fruits and vegetables is heaven to your immune system and will also improve your energy levels. As a guide also lower your intake of white refined carbs, sugars and fatty foods. Organic foods are also excellent as they do not have the chemicals and pesticides that are added to other foods. Please research the alkaline diet for a specific example of a high energy and nutrient dense diet to follow.

Thirdly is exercise, exercise regularly but dont overdo it. 3-4 x a week is ideal. Regular exercise will help in many ways physically and also to help you feel stronger and more confident emotionally. Any form of exercise that you enjoy and find physically beneficial is good. It is essential in fact that you do find it enjoyable. If you find yourself very fatigued then yoga is excellent and you will feel much better for it after, swimming is also very good.

Fourth is relaxation and meditation both are equally important. Stress can build up in our lives sometimes without us realising and have significant impacts on our immune system and therefore our ability to cope with any illnesses/ health condition. By learning relaxation and meditation tools we can learn to effectively manage stress and also improve our overall calm and focus. Enabling us to manage our day to day lives far more effectively. These are both valuable life skills to have.

Take time to laugh and feel good , this gets us out of any negative thinking cycle that can often happen when you feel ill or tired. Do something regularly on a daily basis that you know makes you feel good and takes your complete focus, Just getting in to this habit will reinforce habits of positive thinking and help to release more endorphins (feel-good hormones). Taking time to laugh in any and everyway can also help the healing process, Laughter is the best medicine:)

Lastly surround yourself with people who support and encourage you and who also believe in you and your abilities, this will help you to feel to feel stronger and face things easier. If you dont have these people at the moment then find them where you can, places of interest etc. Support groups can sometimes be good also but be careful not to focus on symptoms too much, as this can bring about a negative thinking cycle, it is all about what we focus on. We can have many things going on in our lives but it is what we are focusing on that effects how we ultimately feel. In addition always look after you, as you are most important in this all, never forget your own needs and how much you deserve your own love as well as the love of others.

Your Health

Feel Healthy

It is your health that is your real true beauty in life

So easily given and then more easily taken, it is the real true gift

Value it with your life, for it depends on it so

There are many a people who aren’t even fortunate enough to know

 

Always remember the real true gift,

It is right there within you; don’t wait for it to fly by

Many a people have done so and then they realise

That their real true gift was right before their eyes

 

Many a true scholar have told us these words before

It is now time we listen, for its more important than before

Our world is filled with guises that hide us from this gift

The only way to truly know is from how you feel inside

 

So stand up for your life and be true to yourself

Don’t hide from your health it is your real gift of wealth

 

For once you really have it, then you will truly know

That the real gift of life

Is right there before you,

 If you  only choose to let it be so

~ M.L.Adams

A Health and Fitness Journey

journey

Beginning on the path of improving your health and fitness is rarely if ever straight forward and easy. To expect it to be so would be setting yourself up for dissapointment.

You have to expect some hard work and effort if you are to get the results that you want to achieve. In the beginning most days you may not feel like exercising or following your healthy eating plan but do it anyway and keep doing it because it will become easier and you will eventually feel like doing it.

Achieving a good state of health and fitness is the same as any success goal, you have to push yourself, really focus and give it all you’ve got and the rewards will come. The beginning is often the toughest part and we all have to start at the beginning at some point. This is where you need the most support and encouragment so surround yourself with people who do that for you and don’t forget to do this for yourself also. Associate each exercise session with a reward of feeling good from it or a chance to meet new people, (but not a chocolate bar afterwards:)

The reason I wanted to identify the struggle in the beginning is because, when we are aware of something we can deal with it much better, as with any challenge in life. Do whatever helps you to overcome it and you will eventually feel like doing it. (Please refer to my post on exercise motivation for more on this.)

Remember though that almost everyone goes through this phase when they begin exercising so you are not alone. The super fit people you see and the instructors all had to start somewhere.

A little bit about my health and fitness journey; I wasnt one of those kids who did loads of sport at school, in fact I did little P.E at all. I began my fitness journey 13 years ago at the age of 17 when I was introduced to martial arts and started going to the gym regularly. My goals back then were fairly small, just to improve my fitness and feel good, but these gradually changed and became more defined.

I specifically remember to this day, the feelings of really having to push myself to go to a session, at this time my mind and body where not accustomed to the benefits and this took a few months to kick in. This would also happen if I were to have a break at any point. Our bodies become accustomed to that which we habitually do, so it is very important to maintain the habit as much as possible, Particuarly in the beginning.

What began to happen was that I noticed after a while I was becoming naturally more motivated and excited before my exercise sessions, getting my kit ready in advance (the day before) and planning everything around my exercise sessions.

It had become a habit and one that I loved, no two people will have exactly the same experience with health and fitness, but the process of motivation is always the same. It is tough in the beginning but if you keep at it and stick to your plan and goals you will soon become more motivated. Your goals and plans will adapt but make sure the habit sticks.

Things do come up such as holidays, illness or injury and when they do , do your best to maintain what you can and perservere through any setback. Don’t let it stop your progress to achieving your goals. As soon as you can get straight back on to your plan and then push yourself to get back in to the habit.

It is a journey to optimum health and fitness and there can be some tough points, but each and every bit is worth the effort and the more effort you put in, the more you will gain from it.

Ultimately in the beginning it is you that has to push yourself but do what you can to gather support from friends, family, a coach or trainer. Most importantly from the very beginning believe you can do it, because you can.

‘Use everything you’ve got to get to the top.’

You can have a teacher, coach or trainer and this helps a lot with motivation and guidance, but it is you that does the work and gets yourself there and you that will have the victory in the end.

I hope you find this guidance helpful, particuarly if you are new to exercise. Please contact us for further guidance, motivation and information on our exercise plans.

teacher bruce lee

The Paradox of Goal-Setting

journey not destinationDo you ever get frustrated at not achieving your goals as quickly as you would like?

I know I have been guilty of this and then I have to remind myself that its not about the destination but it is about the journey.  The pure act of setting goals can make it easy to forget this and to continually focus on the future of where we want to be, but if we do this for too long we can lose touch with who we are and where we are now. This is important because happiness is in the NOW not in the future.

If we approach our goals in a way of being purely focused on getting there, then we lose all the joy of the journey and often make it harder for ourselves to get there as well. Relating this to exercise I always think of the famous Bruce Lee saying of ‘Dont think Feel.’ When you go in to the feeling place you become in the moment and one with that journey you are on. You are still growing and moving forward but you are enjoying it much more than if you are constantly thinking about what you are doing and where you are going. Perhaps why it is so much easier when we have an instructor there telling us what to do;)Dtf 1

But ultimately when you are only focused on the end result of your exercise effort or of any other goal you will not enjoy the journey.  The reason that happiness and success are about the journey and not the destination is because this is where the growth happens and where we learn the most, if we do not focus on the moment we are in, we miss out on all of this.

‘Be happy in the now but seek to grow as a person.’

Accept yourself as and where you are with love, but seek to grow out of self- love also as a desire to grow and give more. Self- love is an important factor, if you are rejecting who and where you are now, you are ultimately rejecting yourself, this is not good of course and not the idea of goal setting. Also we all need to love ourselves, in the healthy sense of course:)

Enjoy being who you are and the PROCESS of becoming who you want to be.

You will get there and you wont even notice because you’ll be too busy being yourself and enjoying the moment you are in and as a result of your journey of being and becoming, you can go far beyond the results of what you originally imagined.

Exercise Motivation

Exercise Motivation

Lack of motivation often keeps people from maintaining an exercise routine so I wanted to offer a few basic starting tips to help those who need that little bit more motivation to maintain their all important exercise routine. We all have a need to exercise to maintain a healthy body and mind and can all benefit from it.

‘Where there is a will there is always a way. ‘

First 3 very important steps

  1. Identify your important health/fitness goal and Write it down
  2. Next to your goal write three important reasons why you have to achieve this goal. Keep this somewhere you will see it every day.
  3. Visualise in your mind the end result of how you will be when you have achieved this goal. Do this also every day.

Important principles to follow;

1.Set a routine – i.e. Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6pm. This is vital because our bodies work in rhythms and we are also creatures of habit. Therefore when we perform regular activities on a daily to weekly basis these can become part of this rhythm and therefore routine leading to a fixed habit. It is necessary that the routine fits in with your current commitments such as around your work schedule and childcare commitments; however you must make it a priority.

2. Use a Fitness Programme – This is vital for several reasons; firstly an exercise programme is designed and instructed to you by an exercise professional, someone who has trained in the mechanics of the body and how to help you achieve your desired results. Therefore the programme designed for you will not only be effective but also safe. Your exercise programme does not always have to be a gym programme so don’t limit yourself to this, it can be a sports club, an exercise class or a personal training session. All of these are designed to meet specific fitness needs and instructed by a professional, just be sure that these are suited to your goals.

3. Set Specific Goals – All goals need to begin with your end result in mind- From there we can break it down so they are not too overwhelming and they are more manageable. This is called the SMART goals approach, which stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timed. Applying all this principles makes your goal more focused and manageable.

4. Prioritise – Prioritising your fitness routine is absolutely essential and something you can train yourself to do. The best way to do this is to plan it in advance either by the week or month and physically write it down in your diary or calendar at the specific times and days that you will be doing your workouts. If you have set training appointments or classes it really helps with this, because they are already set at specific times, so it is harder to back out:).

In addition to writing your exercise times down ensure that you make the space and time for it so that nothing else can possibly get in the way, at first this problem can often come up if we are not aware of it. Things may come up and seem more important, your mind may find excuses, such as you are too tired or busy but you must choose to ignore these excuses and continue with your plan that you have committed yourself to and remind yourself of the importance of your end result and keep doing this until it becomes so strong in you that nothing can get in the way.

These kind of excuses from the mind are very common, as our minds do often resist change. However all habits and patterns can be changed with conscious effort and action and the results are 1000’000 times better than any immediate rewards you may get from following your minds’ excuses of being too busy or tired.

In the initial stages you need to remind yourself of the benefits you will receive consistently to the point where this will also become a habit to you and therefore your drive/motivation. It will also before long become more powerful and important than any excuse that your mind can come up with. Then you will be naturally motivated all the time to exercise because you will not feel anywhere near as good without it.

‘Motivation is what gets you started, habit is what keeps you going.’ ~ Jim Rohn

For information on Health & fitness programmes with Mirala Health please contact me directly at mirala.health@gmail.com or on 0843 289 9327

Favourite Inspirational Health Quotes

Health

‘It is health that is the real wealth, not pieces of gold and silver.’ ~ Mahatma Gandhi

‘ To keep the body in good health is a duty, otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.’ ~ Buddha

‘Take care of your body, its the only place you have to live.’ ~ Jim Rohn

‘Healing is a matter of time but it is also a matter of opportunity.’ ~ Hippocrates

Overcoming problems courageously: a buddhist approach

courageous

Life will likely never be without problems , they are in fact part of daily life. What’s important is how and whether we face them.
Speaking at a buddhist meeting yesterday about the topic of facing our problems courageously I come up with the following  from much reflection.  I hope you can find it useful in your daily life when facing problems that arise. The most important thing is to face them head on. We can’t run away from problems or hide from them, they will only follow us.

‘Dont run away from your problems; face them! Because if you dont deal with your problems they will always be with you. Deal with a problem which arises; face it courageously.’ – Nelson Mandela

His advice is so true, as many of us may know. Never be afraid to face something; if you look within and have faith in a solution, you will always find the answer. There is a solution to every problem no matter how big or small, it is our minds that like to complicate things but there is nothing that can not be overcome and that does not have a higher meaning or purpose if we seek to gain this from it. It is from lifes difficulties that we can often learn and grow the most.

Key points

  1. Trust in yourself – without this you will not feel able to overcome it , you may learn as you go along but if you trust yourself from the start you will know for sure that you can do it.
  2. Practice Compassion – Have compassion for yourself and others. Dont be too hard on yourself and have understanding for where you are currently at in your life. Also with others, by seeking to understand them we can  let go of any anger that would only escalate a situation. If a person is trying to cause you suffering chances are that they are suffering deeply themselves. By seeking to have compassion  for them you let go of any anger or resentment and also any causes which could cause further suffering for you or others involved. You cant change them but you can change your own response which can in turn make a big difference.
  3. Practice Faith – Whatever your faith may be, maintain your practice – Pray, Chant, Meditate and do this daily in your own routine. Having strong faith leads to strong determination, courage and inner peace. When you practice daily these qualities will be there to help you have the strength you need to overcome any problems.
  4. Be Honest and Open – If we are not honest with ourselves we are in denial which takes us back to facing our problems. We can not truly face anything until we are 100% truthful with ourselves and others, therefore the problem will keep coming back until we do. Repressing emotions also causes considerable physical stress which can lead to illness, so although it can be difficult facing problems now, it is actually the easier option.
  5. Give – Give to yourself and give to others, most importantly give time. Time is so important it can never be taken back it is also the thing we always remember, the times we have with people. When you are facing personal problems it can be easy to unintentionally forget others. However as Buddhism teaches, through helping others, our own problems become far smaller because we become part of something much bigger. We can realise that there are others who have similar or much worse problems than ours and that we have something to give them, that we can actually make a difference. We are all actually one big family; if we seek to help and not harm each other the worlds problems will become much smaller. We may think that as one person we can’t do much, but the causes you set can make differences that could go on forever. Never think you are too small to make a difference. As Dalai Lama IV said ‘If you think you are too small to make a difference try sleeping with a mosquito.’
  6. Patience – Cultivate patience within yourself, for yourself and others. Nothing big is usually solved or achieved overnight, things take time. Having faith in the right outcome helps with this. Have that inner knowing that all will be okay.
  7. Have strong determination – Through facing and overcoming problems determination is built , have absolute faith that you can do it and you can transform anything and you will.
  8. Take Action – Last and probably most important – if we dont take action nothing will happen, talk to that person you need to, take that call or whatever step it is you can take to begin facing the situation head on. Often things are not half as bad as we imagine them to be when we actually do take action and face them. If the challenge seems too big to face now then break it down in to small actionable steps that you can manage. Look to others who have overcome similar problems and know in your heart that if they can do it, then you can too.

Lastly to add and it may sound difficult to some, but always look inside for answers. Through our own causes we can create new effects and new situations, this is not about blame, but about empowerment. Through transforming yourself you can then transform your environment.

Who looks outside dreams; who looks inside awakens. ~ Carl Jung