A Zen Approach to Everyday Fitness

Al Kavadlo is a NYC based trainer who has recently published a new book: A Zen Approach to Everyday Fitness. The book contains his unique approach and philosophy of fitness and life, including training tips, photographs, and personal anecdotes. This is an excerpt from the book.

This might sound a bit odd, but the type of exercise that you do isn’t all that important. Whether it’s push-ups in your house and running around the block, or rock climbing and playing tennis – it doesn’t matter, as long as you’re working smartly, safely and efficiently. The old saying goes, “Don’t work harder, work smarter,” but I disagree. I say, “Work hard AND work smart.”

Let’s start with working smart. What does this mean? Mindfulness is at the center of my fitness philosophy and it’s the belief from which all of my practices are born. In its most basic sense, mindfulness means that your attention is entirely focused on the task that you are performing at a particular moment. In short, paying attention to what you’re doing when you’re doing it. If, as you read this, you get distracted by another thought (maybe your mom’s birthday is next week and you haven’t figured out what to get her…flowers, maybe?) then you are NOT exercising mindfulness. If you’re reading a book, read the book. If you’re thinking about what to get Mom, think about what to get Mom. And if you’re exercising, think about exercising.

Exercising mindfully means that during your workout you are concentrating on the present moment and not drifting off into a daydream or worrying about what you will do next. Before beginning your routine, try to let go of the clutter occupying your mental space. If you’re frustrated at work or you had a fight with your girlfriend, don’t take that anxiety and confusion into your workout. Take a moment beforehand to relax yourself and slow your mind. This might be hard at first, but with time and practice you will be able to clear your mind and focus on the task at hand. When you learn to improve your concentration, you will improve your workout. Just bear in mind that this is going to be a slow process.

I think it's safe to assume that most people reading this book have attempted some form of organized exercise at least once in their life. Perhaps you found it to be agony, the burning in your lungs too much to bear, the aching in your legs insufferable. Or maybe you liked it, but were unable to keep up with your regimen. No matter your viewpoint, there were probably times when you had a hard time keeping focused. It's pretty common. Anyone who exercises, no matter how long they have been at it, will sometimes drift off during a workout. A catchy tune on your iPod or the person running on the treadmill next to you can throw you out of your rhythm and take over your mind in a fraction of a second. We see this in our everyday lives, as well. Whether you’re at the gym, at work, reading a book or driving a car, distractions will happen. And guess what? That’s fine. When you feel yourself drifting, bring your focus back to the task at hand, whether it is pull-ups or just keeping the car on the road.

There are certain activities like driving or operating heavy machinery that we as a society deem more attention worthy than others. Generally, these are actions that require increased concentration and focus in order to maintain safety, and with good reason. We all know the dangers involved when people become distracted behind the wheel. You catch your reflection in the rearview mirror and wonder if that zit is still going to be there for your date on Saturday and then wham! You slam into the car in front of you. If you lose your attention for even a moment, the consequences can be tragic. It’s with this mindset that I want you to go into every workout. This is mindfulness.

The way I see it, being behind the wheel of an automobile is no more important of an undertaking than being “behind the wheel” of your own body. You should take the same care and precaution in your workout as you do with staying on the road. Unfortunately, most people don’t share my point of view and fail to take their workouts very seriously (there are lots of terrible drivers out there, too, but I digress). To them, exercise is a pain in the ass, something to get done with as soon as possible so that they can get back to their lives. They even go so far as to intentionally distract themselves while exercising. All of the gyms in America's major cities are now equipped with rows and rows of TVs in order to cater to this need for distraction. People watch the TVs so that they won’t have to think about what they’re doing, about the stress that their bodies are going through. If they can just make it through that episode of Everybody Loves Raymond, they can throw in the towel and go home feeling good about themselves. It is this distractionary approach to exercise, this reliance on a diverted mind, which I am trying to prevent.

Let’s go back to the car metaphor for a minute. If you’re driving along on the highway and talking on your cell phone, you’re more likely to get in an accident. “But I’ve done this before,” you say. “I’m not going to drive off the road.” And this is probably true, but while your attention is diverted, you’re missing other things that are just as important. The speed limit is 65, but you glance down after a couple minutes and realize you’re going 90. You back off a bit, but then get sucked back into your phone call. By the time you glance back down, you’re going 40 and cars are flying past you. Your equilibrium is off and you’re unable to maintain that 60-miles-per-hour limit.

While driving a car is clearly more dangerous than going for a run (you're less likely to injure others while working out), your body works in the same way. If your attention is focused on something else, you might miss the signs that your body is sending you. While you’re chatting away, clues that you should be speeding up or slowing down are slipping by you like cars on the highway. When you’re working out, you should be constantly listening to your body. Not only will this improve your workout from day to day, it will also help you to avoid injury.

Now you might be saying, “But I hate working out. Why would I want to think about that the whole time? It will just make me hate it more.” I understand this--it makes sense. If something is making you miserable, why harp on it? Why channel all you energy and attention into it? I can answer these questions with the same points that I brought up earlier (because you’ll get a better workout, because otherwise you might get hurt, etc.), but I can also answer them in another way, one that you might not have expected. Ready for it?

BECAUSE YOU MIGHT JUST START TO LIKE IT.

Seems crazy, right? Well, humans are an extremely adaptable species. Think about it. There are people simultaneously living in Alaska while others are living in rain forests. One group ended up in the north and learned to survive in the frigid cold; the other went to the forests and learned to live a life amongst the trees and humidity. Both groups had to adapt to survive. While your circumstances might not be as dire as these, the fact still remains that your body is wired to adapt.

Need a different example? A more familiar one? Fine. Think about the first time you had a beer. Do you remember what that was like? It was bitter and gross. If your friends hadn’t all been standing around, you probably would have spit it out. Now, years later, a cold beer can be refreshing and enjoyable. Over time, your body adapted to the taste of beer and your mind stopped associating it with bitterness and began associating it with more pleasant effects (getting buzzed). So what’s my point? It can be the same with exercise. Right now, you dread it because it tires you out and burns your muscles. Your mind focuses on the negative aspects, the bitterness. What you need to do is start to slowly change your mindset and the best way to do this is NOT by watching TV and ignoring what you’re doing! It’s focusing on your workout while you’re doing it. It’s getting into the exercises and being involved. It’s listening to what your body is telling you. It’s exercising mindfulness. Before you know it, exercise might be as refreshing and enjoyable as a cold beer.

Article Information
	This article was featured in the February 2011 Issue of the My Mad Methods Magazine. "A Zen Approach to Everyday Fitness" was written by Al Kavadlo. Learn more about the My Mad Methods Magazine by Clicking Here

Contributor Information

Al Kavadlo is a NYC based trainer who has recently published a new book: A Zen Approach to everyday Fitness. The book contains his unique approach and philosophy of fitness and life, including training tips, photographs, and personal anecdotes.

Find out more at www.AlKavadlo.com

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