Train Your Mind and the Body Will Follow

The mind is the master of the body. If we train and discipline our minds, the body will follow. Once the body and mind become focused and in tune, you will see that your whole life will seem to flow; like you are in the zone. In other words, you will not be fighting with yourself and good things will just seem to happen for you. We use this simple exercise in my martial arts school at the Academy of Kempo Martial Arts in Bellevue before we start training.

Here is an easy way to start training your mind:

First warm up your body so that you are not tired. A few minutes of light stretches will do the trick. Then sit very comfortably without loud music or distractions. (Can't find a place? Try the bathroom, you only need 5 minutes :).

Start by placing your tongue on the roof of your mouth. Breathe in through your nose for a count of 4 or so. Then breathe out through your mouth for a count of 6 to 8. The out breath should always be longer than the in breath. Do this five to ten times. Focus on nothing but the count. Counting will give your mind something to focus on, which will help prevent the mind from wandering or being distracted. This simple exercise will re-energize you, re-focus you, and get your mind under control.

A few tips to go along with this breathing exercise:

1) Keep your back straight.

2) Eyes should remain open, but soften your vision. (Do not focus your eyes on anything specific)

3) Place your hands comfortably in your lap.

4) Breathe deep. Pull the air all the way to the bottom of your stomach.

5) Control the breath out. Don't let the air just escape.

This is a very involved process and there are many reasons it works; too many to give you in one page. Just like aspirin, you may not know the chemical make up, but you know it gets rid of the headache. This exercise can get you focused, distress and unite the mind and body. It works if you do it. Try it for 2 weeks, for 3 to 5 minutes a day. You will be calmer and more focused than ever. Add some physical exercise, like martial arts, and you will get a one-two punch that can truly change your life.

We spend way to much time on everything and everyone but we seem to ignore ourselves. The time we spend on ourselves is less than most people spend brushing their teeth'. We really owe it to ourselves to take a little time for just ourselves. I hope you can take some time for yourself to recharge, because everything is a continuous cycle and just as mediation breathing is a cycle, so is your positive energy and if you feel good you are passing that to others and the cycle continues.