Replace discipline with desire, and you may find that you feel less bullied by your internal monologue, and more motivated. Guilt and blame have no place in the Whole Life Fitness Manifesto.
And this is where physical and mental fitness really start to reinforce each other in a positive feedback loop. We all know we need to push past physical resistance when we’re working out, on a strenuous hike, or skiing or snowboarding down a tough mountain run. It’s mental focus that comes to our rescue and carries us forward when our muscles start to fatigue. We need healthy thoughts and loving self-talk to encour-age ourselves to take care of our bodies, and to face the challenges that life throws at us. In turn, a strong, healthy body will give you the energy, confidence and the sense of bounce you need to achieve your goals.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with bringing in reinforcements, especially when you’re just starting out. I’ll sometimes joke with my clients, “There’s nothing more
16
Dai Manuel’s Whole Life Fitness Manifesto
motivating than my size 12 shoe connecting with your butt.” Kidding aside, I do understand how a trainer can be moti-vating, especially at the beginning of a new fitness regime. Accountability is a great motivator, and that added sense of camaraderie, or community, makes working out a lot more fun!
The Importance Of Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a bit of a buzzword these days, and for good reason. To me, it is simply a feeling of mental clar-ity. It means cultivating awareness, not only of my body but also of my place in the world. We’re reactionary creatures by nature, and that tendency is compounded by so many stimuli being fired at us at all times, especially from media and the advertising industry.
In an interview with CBS, advertising executive Jay Walker-Smith said that we’re exposed to up to 5,000 ad messages a day, which is a steep hike from the 500 or so we saw daily in the 1970s. While this may seem impos-sibly high, the truth is we are hit with brand impressions from the moment we wake up until we go to bed, thanks in large part to the prevalence of the Internet in our daily lives. Just think of the number of brand messages that bombard you, just on your smartphone alone. Every day, the massive amount of media messages we receive is a huge drain on our mental energy.
I find that my best time for really connecting with where I’m at is right after a hard workout. I’m physically taxed, lying on my back on the ground stretching out into what the yogis call savasana, or the corpse pose. I lie with my eyes closed, feet and knees gently falling open, shoulders relaxed and my arms by my side with the palms facing upwards. My breathing becomes shallower as my mind focuses on the job of relaxation. As each thought comes to me, I acknowledge it before gently pushing it away. It’s in this state that I can really tune into my body and reach a higher state of mental clarity.
Of course there are many other forms of mindfulness practice and meditation (which we’ll get into in Chapter 5), but I love savasana because it’s simple and works for everyone. Just taking that five, 10 or 15 minutes to be still inevitably calms the mind, so that your ideas can flow. In fact, many of my most creative ideas come to me
I think I got savasana figured out, does that make me a yogi?
17
whole life fitness
after savasana, such as a conversation that I need to have, or a new project that I want to start. For me, that’s where that mind-body connection happens, and it packs a powerful punch.
During savasana, I start to feel like I am just being; I don’t feel pressure to make decisions, because I am able to simply be present and in the moment. I’m not worried about past decisions; I’m not concerned about what tomorrow will bring—I’m simply cognizant of my existence in that moment of stillness. I’m there with breath-ing, and my gratitude for being there. That’s the idea behind the Whole Life Fitness Manifesto, to bring you into this state of ease and alignment, where everything’s just trucking along, feeling good.
And here’s the kicker: It’s all a positive upward spiral! After incorporating these practices into your life for a while—body and mind both healthy and feeling good—you’ll start to experience a deeply satisfying cycle of mental clarity, physical fitness and life accomplishments, where everything feeds each other.
Our minds are a culmination of everything that’s happened before now. For me, that includes every action I’ve taken, every food I’ve eaten, and every person I’ve met. Is it possible to get physically fit without taking care of your mental and spiritual self? Sure. But it’s harder to get going, and it’s less fun along the way.
The Whole Life Fitness Power 30
I designed the Whole Life Fitness Power 30 in such a way that you don’t have to rein-vent your lifestyle to accommodate it. Instead, you can plug this 30-minute ritual into your busy day. Each 30-minute session breaks down like this:
15 minutes for your workout of the day (wod), or movement with purpose
5 minutes for meditation or mindfulness
10 minutes of concentrated personal development
Think about this: 30 minutes makes up just two per cent of your 24-hour day. This time is just for you—no excuses. Commit to it the same way you commit to brushing your teeth, and I promise you’ll see big shifts in your whole life.
Remember, you’re not alone on this journey—I’m here for you; I’ll show you the way, both in this book and in our online community. So let’s get into a huddle and start making some awesome changes in our lives—together!
mental clarity
life accomplishments
physical fitness
[no image in epub file]
[no image in epub file]
[no image in epub file]
[no image in epub file]
[no image in epub file]
[no image in epub file]
Independence
[no image in epub file]
[no image in epub file]
[no image in epub file]
[no image in epub file]
[no image in epub file]
Be a
great
parent
Travel the world
Have a healthy lve life
[no image in epub file]
Unlimited possibilities
Feel free to do whatever moves me
Self-respect
Don’t
