People should start exercising regularly when seeking spiritual enlightenment. Most usually start with the mind instead of the body. But how can someone achieve successful contemplative practice without a fit body?
Yes, a spiritual journey requires a sound mind and a healthy body. Shaping your physique to its optimal condition can prepare you for the long and profound journey of seeking wisdom and uncovering the universe's secrets.
Let's learn how your physical body can have spiritual benefits and how balancing your physical and spiritual well-being helps you achieve enlightenment.
Picture this: if you're feeling sluggish and dull, you feel like procrastinating and doing nothing useful. But you should get up and move to raise your oxygen level and get your blood flowing. Then, you'll be refreshed and reenergized to finish whatever you are engaged in.
That's because your mind and body are connected more closely than you think. Physical practice will trigger the release of your brain's natural chemicals, the endorphins, that make you feel good. A surge in endorphins will elevate your mood, raise energy levels, and reduce stress and anxiety. Furthermore, all this will boost your mental health and make you think more clearly.
You don't have to sign up for a gym membership or do heavy-duty sports immediately. You can start by gardening at home or taking a simple stroll around your neighborhood. When you are ready for more, light exercises will do. Simply put, physical activities will release the accumulated tension in your body.
Your unhealthy body is more prone to stress and pain. These conditions cloud your mind, unbalancing your emotional well-being. Contrary to what many believe, moving your body more will not add to that stress and pain. Instead, it will relieve the body from said pain.
You can think of exercise as a form of moving meditation. Concentrating on the feelings in your body while also controlling your breaths will deepen your spiritual experience.
Breathing is a powerful practice in spirituality. For example, you can only achieve a pure meditative state if your breath falls into a certain rhythm of exhaling and inhaling. As you train to control your breathing during physical exercises, you habituate yourself with conscious breathing during meditation. Hence, you can reach the meditative state faster than usual.
Furthermore, exercising is a way to escape your busy life. Walking, cycling, or swimming don't have to be complicated. They can be moments of solitude where your mind is quiet enough so you can connect to the world around you on a deeper level. In this regard, exercising helps you find inner peace.
The concept of energy flow often takes the spotlight in spiritualism. Chakras, otherwise known as energy centers, are at the heart of it. Regular exercise will stimulate and balance your chakras so that your body distributes energy evenly. When all your energy centers are aligned, you will experience a spiritual awareness unlike ever before.
Different exercises target different centers. For example, crunches or planks are good exercises for your stomach muscle strength (Manipura or solar plexus chakra). Meanwhile, shoulder rolls and neck stretch strengthen your throat chakra (Vishuddha).
Yoga is the most common exercise to balance your energy flow. The various poses and breathing techniques involved are said to align your mind, body, and spirit. Tai Chi is another movement practice where you can stimulate and manage your energy. It promotes balance, harmony, and connectivity to the present moment.
Creating a ritual out of your exercises is one way you turn your physical activity into a spiritual practice.
Beginning this ritual is simple. All you have to do is choose where the exercise takes place. Let's say you want to do aerobic activity. Choose one room with plenty of natural light. Play some motivational music. Or light some incense that enables you to breathe freely.
The next act is to set your intentions. You do this by visualizing your goals before each workout. You can say, "I want my lungs to get strong so I can breathe easily" before swimming. Or you can say, "I want to balance my body" before doing a yoga session.
The final act is to use positive affirmations to amplify those goals. Connect your promises to your exercise. For example, say, "I am strong, fast, and resilient before running."
Regular exercise keeps your physical health in top condition. But it's also a way to free you from pain or stress. When energy flows freely in your body from exercising, your mind clears, and your spiritual health balances.
These physical activities will help you achieve enlightenment faster. Having no time or motivation is no excuse to prevent you from exercising. Facing obstacles like limited time or laziness is easy if you set realistic exercise goals. Keeping track of them in a journal may also help. It's a great idea to have friends and family members exercise with you, too.
Your body is just as important as your mind when reaching spiritual enlightenment. Take care of your body and keep going until the end.
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