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Exercising vs. | Meditating |
---|---|
An hour concentrating on one motion or body part | an hour concentrating on your breathing. |
Losing form / failing at a lift- regroup, try it again | poor posture / realising you have drifted away into thinking- bring it back again. |
Developing physical muscle | developing mind muscle. |
Making time for a workout and sticking to a schedule | making time for a sitting and sticking to it. |
Focus on the lift, hold for a time, put it down again | focus on mediation object, hold attention for a time, drop attention. |
Various exercises to try while down at the gym | various mental exercises to choose from while sitting. |
Half an hour is fine but the real results are directly proportional to the time you put into it | Half an hour is fine but the real results are directly proportional to the time you put into it |
Stick with it, you will look and feel great after 6 months but the real results take years of dedication and training. | stick with it, you will look and feel great after 6 months but the real results take years of dedication and training. |
What you get out depends on what you put in.
The mind is there for training, just like the body
Lift (and Sit.)
​
Edit: A few handy tips then.
If you are totally new to it, start off with some of the guided meditations/ self hypnosis/ wierdo music tracks for 20 minutes just to fill the time- just jumping in and sitting will be a bit boring. You can get very good results from just being shown how to calm the fuck down and relax for a bit.
Go and take a few lessons with some like minded people. I'm not a big fan of the new age wooliness of some of the yoga types but it will help you at least tuern up if you are paying. They do often know their onions and, at the very worst, the yoga teacher can get her legs around the back of her head.
Books: The Power of Now, The Mind Illuminated. Alan Watts is/ was 'the fucking man' if you are wanting to get into zen/ buddhism/ religion- but I've not read so much by him on straight practice, which is where we are at here.
Sessions: I saw a few complaining that they can only do 5/10/20/30 minutes. I think that a big bullshit point getting pumped around a lot is that you HAVE to do ONE HOUR EVERYDAY!!! I mean, who has the time? I hear (I think it was Ghandi): 'if you are extremely busy then you should meditate for twice as long.' - or somesuch. Well lah dee fucking dah! It's true but just a touch on the condescending side, right? If I don't have the time because I'm busy, then I don't have the fucking time- period.
Just turning up at the gym is 99%. Same with mediation. Don't feel like the fact that you managed to claw your way up to an hour means that you have to do it everyday. Just do the 10/ 20 minutes and pump out that 40 mins/ 1 hour once a week when you have the space for it- ( Saturday morning instead of my old hangover works well for me). See it as your 1RM and gradually work towards doing it for reps. There is nothing like the feeling of hitting your 1RM though- it encourages you to do more. The effects of an hour on the cushion are likewise- something that will make you want to come back for more. The feeling of just having done it, alongside the lift it will give to your day, will have you coming back for more. OK- enough of the gym analogy.
Apps: Headspace, Insight timer- I don't like paying for headspace so I kicked it into touch after taking a look at the 10 day thing, which was good... I only need a timer with an interval bell- Insight timer also has a ton of free guided stuff- some better than others but on the whole good- just cherrypick. I'm quite impressed with it. Youtube has stuff, soundcloud has stuff etc etc.
Subreddit: I'm gonna come right out with it: I don't like the official subreddit- 'streamentry' is much more my style and works with The Mind Illuminated.
Have fun. I hope you get the results I do. It helps with power, frame, lifting, relationships- just life in general- it's a real rising tide underneath me. Focus on yourself and the world falls into line around you- trust the process, it's all true.
MiggityMike8 5y ago
Meditation just sounds like some beta bullshit
Omountains 5y ago
You'zza dumfuck homie. Meditation is why samurai's were fearless as fuck. You can never be a true alpha unlessed you've achieved self-mastery.
r4nd01 5y ago
Is there anyone else out there who's tried meditation a bunch of times throughout life and thinks its kinda just like prayer for hippies and not really life-changing enough to warrant the amount of time commitment and discomfort? Personally, I much prefer a 20-30 minute power nap, or a nice walk.
BTW, when/why did everyone start talking about meditation? It was still pretty fringe in the west when I was on my spiritual quest or whatever. I been out of the game for a while.
Dreamerboy112 5y ago
Does meditation actually give you more calmness and confidence in social interactions?
NormalAndy 5y ago
I’d say it was the single biggest help in dealing with my own anxiety. The diet, gym, change of attitude helped too.
I still feel nervous but it’s not often a problem anymore.
Dreamerboy112 5y ago
thats awesome. It´s just hard for my logical mind to understand how focusing on nothing for 15 minutes a day can help with such a thing. But i will go for it, guided hypnosis has helped me with issues before so i guess it´s pretty similar.
NormalAndy 5y ago
Yes it is. Really just learning to allow thoughts and feelings, rather than attaching to them. It helps a lot. 15 minutes is a good start too. Best of luck with it.
randomTATRP 5y ago
OK, so 1 hour of meditation, 3-4 hours of gym (at the longest days, 1h is getting to the gym and back, 1h30 min training, 20 mins of warmup, 20 mins of after-workout stretching and posture work and then 15 mins to prepare to shower and actually take it and dress again), the shortest time to make a quality lunch is 45 mins, and eating at all takes like 1 hour daily, that leaves me with 2-3 hours of free time if I work 8h/day. How to not get home after gym and relax by talking to people on FB (literally talking, not scrolling brainlessly) as you need some social work too and generally relaxing after a hard day of work (if you worked efficiently at work)?
NormalAndy 5y ago
Sounds like you’ve got it down already mate!
randomTATRP 5y ago
So you're saying I SHOULD be having some fun in the evening by IMing people?
NormalAndy 5y ago
No, I'm saying that you have noticed when you are unconsciously wasting your time. You can shut that shit down by yourself if you are aware of it.
Being aware is half the story. Bringing yourself back to the focus of attention is the other.
So the question is what were you supposed to be doing? Do that instead.
randomTATRP 5y ago
Yeah, but like for 20% of the time I notice it. Mostly I go to check something on YT/FB/Google and end up losing much more time than I should've.
Ghyslain333 5y ago
Well let me tell you that while working out, you usually get more the less you put into it, up to a certain extent. I've been getting crazy gains recently hitting about 90 reps total per week per body part, spread evenly across 6 days. That makes for some 45 minutes workout. The logic behind it is that the less strain you inflict on your muscles, the less they have to repair themselves but the more they can grow on top of the slight damage inflicted. Thus, the more net growth per workout.
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BComplex 5y ago
meditation is much much harder then going to the gym.
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whuttupfoo 5y ago
The gym is hard at first until you let the habit sit in and your muscles are used to heavy activation.
Same with meditation, when you get a solid habit of an hour a day, it can feel like 10 minutes.
BComplex 5y ago
I do both, the gym you get to be active, have movement, entertain thoughts, etc...
Meditation is much much different and much more difficult.
BobbyPeru 5y ago
The key with meditation is consistency. Every day. Period. I find that committing to a smaller daily time and then moving up a little at a time to be most effective. A good starting daily meditation is 10 minutes.... all at one time or twice a day. Otherwise , it’s too daunting to start at an hour a day and do it consistently
slifer3 5y ago
how do u know when youve had a good meditation sesh? is it when your body feels softer and less tense and your breathing is more deep compared to when you started? i like to meditate doing deep 'hums' it feels really effective rather than just purely breathing
Einzakin 5y ago
I like this post but I gotta say meditation is much different than the gym. I can go to the gym on a whim. I can go box, squat, run, do hot yoga blah blah blah.
The minute I start really sitting with myself and focusing on my breathing, all my shit floods to the forefront. I can't stop it. I can distract myself with random scenarios but if I'm honest and focus on my breathing, it is the most difficult thing for me to do. It's nothing like the gym for me. I still randomly notice I'm scrolling through facebook or instagram thinking of stupid things and then realize I could be meditation but put it off.
You become a really good meditator you become really good at those uncomfortable situations. You realize your mind is a cataclysm that needs time to calm down. Give it time. That's what meditation is. Focus on your breath and notice the crazy shit that comes to your mind. This is easy when you're calm, but try it when you've just finished a hard work day. Try it daily. It's one of the most difficult things I've had to endure. It's one of the most rewarding.
Some of you guys want the easy way out so you act like it's just like going to the gym. It ain't. I'm not jacked by any means but I've been to the gym hundreds of times. Meditation is different. If you can get to the point where real meditation is like going to the gym then I honestly applaud you.
Meditate and do it honestly. If you can calm down your mind you'll figure out most things.
NormalAndy 5y ago
I reckon you've pretty much got it to be honest.
"You become a really good meditator you become really good at those uncomfortable situations." - this.
Try to just look at the shit that comes up and allow it to float around. You are not your mind, you are watching your mind. The mind is a bit like a chick. If you pay attention to all the bullshit that comes up, it just makes matters worse.
Just look at all the crazy with that same 'I am the boss'/ 'holding frame' kind of smile inside attitude, then return to the breath and say to yourself: ' I wonder what the next thought will be? I wonder what the next feeling will be?'- and work with your breath until something else happens.
Bringing yourself back to the breath from thoughts does not show any kind of failure. Noticing yourself in thoughts and bringing it back is 'the' achievement- keep doing that.
Demiurge_Decline 5y ago
I am going to start with meditating. Its been a long time implementing but it cant hurt...
joner888 5y ago
Whats the definition of meditation ?
GuruDev1000 5y ago
They mean Eastern meditation techniques. So that includes breath awareness, mantra, mindfulness, etc.
joner888 5y ago
Thats what you do while lifting aswell , lifting heavy with proper form requires all those things
GuruDev1000 5y ago
That's like saying deadlifting is the same as carrying a bucket of water everyday.
Meditation is a specialising in mind-control. Mind-control is part of most things in life, including lifting, but you don't specialise in it unless you leave out everything (body and external activities) and just work with the mind.
Gregorqn 5y ago
You might have mind control, but I have brain control
Rezi89 5y ago
I'd like to offer an amendment to point 1; focusing on breathing is absolutely essential in lifting. So they are even more similar than you have already suggested.
Atolla2 5y ago
My commute is 1 hour on the bus each way, so a bit of meditation has been easy to fit in.
I find a 15-20 minute open eye meditation is really easy to do, and really just requires you to put the phone away & avoid looking at screens.
Closed eye meditation requires more work...
Does anyone get an inner ear twitch when they're really in the zone?
ZigzagLumen 5y ago
Question on open eye meditation (especially when commuting): do you focus on an object, or just kind of look through your entire view not looking at anything in particular?
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Raggos 5y ago
While this all rings true, the point of results being directly proportional is dubious while somewhat true. We are trying to improve our minds and body... and while lifting specifically for 2hrs a day with intensity, doing it 6hrs a day is overkill for the body (save being an athlete or in the meditations case, a monk).
Now, there are retreats for meditation which basically act as a ferrari getting you from point A to B (and C, D).. by teaching you techniques and putting in the practice, however, even if you meditate as much life will get in the way....life needs to be lived, so balance needs to be attained.
2x 30min a day.... and acting as if THIS IS A MARATHON (which life is, with everything)...will get you far, further than doing sprints and burning out.
So lift, sit.. and do it all in moderation, find your pace. And when you finally reach that plateu (for the mind aswell), try reading books like The Attention Revolution, to break through, since what got you here, won't get you there.
Peace
br0kencircuit 5y ago
For those new to meditation, I highly recommend a vipassana retreat. Perfect way to go all in and get proper guidance on how to do it. Week and a half of forced silence with days totally focused on meditation. Rough at first but a real life changer if you take full advantage.
Rad_Von_Carstein 5y ago
Quite interested in this. There're a few here in the UK. Complete beginner meditation-wise, would this be suitable for me or should I build a foundation first? How would you say you've benefited from this? Starting from nothing, by the end of the retreat (10 days I assume), could I be self sufficient to just get on with it going forward?
NormalAndy 5y ago
Brilliant- could you give a few more details? I think practicing for long periods is ROUGH. But I realise now that without the rough, how would I learn how to not suffer because of it?
br0kencircuit 5y ago
Sure. The way it worked was that we followed a pretty straightforward schedule:
And exactly, it’s not so much about suffering for suffering’s sake but learning that everything—itches, pain, and ultimately any form of suffering—are temporary (Anicca).
During the first three days or so, it’s okay if you move during sits. After that, though, you start practicing Adhittana or “strong determination.” Quite literally, you sit in one position and don’t move for an hour unless you absolutely have to.
Those were grueling, but, permanently rewired my brain to understand what Anicca meant. Since then, I’ve gone from being relatively anxious all the time to being pretty damn mellow. As you can imagine it makes IDGAF that much easier.
NormalAndy 5y ago
lol- it sounds like boot camp! So is the 2 hour session the longest without a break? It sounds hardcore but I would love to have the chance to give it a go.
Meditation has already killed my anxiety. If it never gives me anything else I won't be unhappy.
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Swan_in_a_Cage 5y ago
Yeah Asana (yoga) is actually the prerequisite to meditation. You can't meditate unless you lift (either body or weights) because your body will be too fucking weak to sit straight for a long time.
Meditation is like lifting both body and mind.
Thrashtastix667 5y ago
Been going through a rough break up and discovered TRP.... Back in the gym as a result and it sucks while you’re there but it becomes so easy to let shit roll off your shoulder and see things for what they are.
Nixus043- 5y ago
Great post !
Meditating helped me tremendous in several aspects of my life. In the beginning it was difficult but just like Andy is saying in his post stick with it and results wil follow and you will feel better!
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Not sure if i can say this but i used an app that's called Aware which guided me through. Starting with a few minutes a day and then building up. If you are looking to start look it up on Google play or App store
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Zech4riah 5y ago
Exercising vs Meditating
Exercising: The results actually show and people can see it. Therefore it's easy to believe that excercise develops your muscles
Meditating: It's only you who "feels" the change. Nobody else sees that there has been any improvement. Therefore it's hard to believe that meditation is anything else but pseudoscience. (EDIT: People are misunderstanding this. The statement is that you need to believe that this shit works and it's easier to believe if you see it actually working on others. Never seen that tho from the outside.)
EDIT: Oh the downvotes. I guess we have true believers here who don't like that the pseudoscience gets mocked. Can anyone link a study where meditating is compared to same duration of other relaxing activities like taking a nap or listening to music or just sitting quiet while watching/listening to a river?
PS. If you believe hard enough. Even sticking an ice stick up your ass will relieve your stress.
Theophagist 5y ago
> . Can anyone link a study where meditating is compared to same duration of other relaxing activities like taking a nap or listening to music or just sitting quiet while watching/listening to a river?
No, they can't. But meditation is "hard" so we assume that it must be great for us.
sadshark 5y ago
Do some research on the science behind meditation before spouting bullshit.
Theophagist 5y ago
I hear too many people mistaking an appeal to the majority for science.
Raggos 5y ago
While it was considered pseudo-science, not so after research.
https://journals.lww.com/neuroreport/Abstract/2009/01280/Long_term_meditation_is_associated_with_increased.14.aspx
https://books.google.nl/books?hl=sl&lr=&id=1YnP0Jx-QvIC&oi=fnd&pg=PA195&dq=MRI+scans+of+meditators+study&ots=tAfvweSUY_&sig=Q_UmhFMUNR3VNDeQeYU_YVwIUbs#v=onepage&q=MRI%20scans%20of%20meditators%20study&f=false
Zech4riah 5y ago
So where is the comparison between meditation and other relaxing activities of same duration?
Is it the meditation or generally resting a bit more while having a hectic day?
sadshark 5y ago
No. Meditation reduces the size of the amygdala which controls stress, fear, and other emotions.
Raggos 5y ago
It's how you handle yourself. Relaxing via an activity is like putting a band-aid on a cut... meditation is like practicing the marshall art of not-getting-cut in the first place. It's literally a re-wirement practice, example is labeling of thoughts or sensations...(car horn - sound, thought about lifting.....oneitis thought...)
The difference is monumental...not to discredit actual relaxation though, that also has its purpose.
KeffirLime 5y ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1YKcOSClGU
Have a listen. When done properly it has drastic, noticeable changes.
Zech4riah 5y ago
Ok, I'll give it a go because I'd really wanted this to work but I have to be sure that it works to not get annoyed and to decide how much I can cut time from other productive activities for meditation.
KeffirLime 5y ago
I was as skeptical as you, read my post history "Control Your Mind;Control Your Life" Sums up some of the changes that take place.
Meditating is the single most important activity I do during the day, it enhances the effectiveness of all my other (productive) activities.
There's an old saying that goes:
You should try meditate for 30 mins a day, unless you're really busy, then you should meditate for an hour.
TheRedBrahmin 5y ago
It worked wonders for me. I make better decisions and I focus on the moment rather than worry about the future/dwell on the past. Reduced my anger issues too. I’m living my best life right now because of it. I couldn’t give two shits about whether people see the difference in me or not. I’m doing it for myself. Not them.
Zech4riah 5y ago
I'm glad for you, maybe you believe hard enough.
TheRedBrahmin 5y ago
Thanks man. All the best to you.
Scorptice 5y ago
Everyone notices changes in your attitude, your reaction to negative surprises, your awareness and your ability to handle stress.
Especially women, who are also a main source for all the aforementioned.
With increased mental ability, you directly increase your success in everything, even physical training.
Zech4riah 5y ago
So are you saying that I should cut 30mins per day from gaming , lifting and/or working to meditate and I would achieve better results in all of those in the long run because I would develop/get more done even tho I cut those things down to fit in meditation sessions?
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showerdudes9 5y ago
Doesnt matter if other people see the results unless youre an insecure attentionwhore craving validation.
Zech4riah 5y ago
Yes it does matter, you have to believe in this stuff for it to work and when you see something to work on other people, it's much easier to believe in it yourself.
It really requires you to have some faith to think that sitting silently 30mins per day will make you feel better in the long run.
(My friends who are meditating are as anxious as always even tho they state otherwise. Maybe they are sitting silently in the wrong way :/ )
showerdudes9 5y ago
Youre just making up excuses for yourself because you dont have the willpower or discipline to go through with it.
Zech4riah 5y ago
If you knew me, you wouldn't be saying that.
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Zech4riah 5y ago
Well, that's a bad metaphor. Please don't make me anymore sceptic about meditation by using awful arguments.
RedPlanetMan 5y ago
I didn't need to read your post to agree/upvote. I think any discipline can be a meditation, but the intent must be there or at least acknowledged as a part of the experience.
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Instagraming/goofing around, ego-lifting, and babe spotting don't really have the same benefits as, lets say, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly discipline in showing up, lifting, dieting and sleeping well, and just all around accepting personal responsibility for ones own path and obstacles in life.
HammerJayce 5y ago
Dang, never thought of it that way. Definitely gonna try to incorporate meditation into my morning routine
mikey7209 5y ago
Meditation is satanic and apart of the new age movement. Aleister Crowley even has a book on meditation
sadshark 5y ago
This dude is spot on. I've been meditating for 4 months and now I'm beer buddies with satan. We have drinks every monday...
volvostupidshit 5y ago
My BPD/NPD ex will eat that Crowley alive in a single munch.
Ezaar 5y ago
This advertisement for meditation is great, but I will say make sure to do it properly, and respectfully.
Correct form helps with preventing physical and mental injury.
Having a good teacher also helps with form and guidance.
erickcov 5y ago
Hey! anyone got any good meditation beginners guide? thanks :)
whuttupfoo 5y ago
Look at The Mind Illuminated by Culadasa Yates. Everything you need is in there. Headspace doesn’t get that detailed compared to this book.
MagistriVerborum 5y ago
I'd recommend starting with the app 'Headspace'. Easy to follow and motivated me to continue by myself after I did all the free classes.
TimmyTurnersNuts 5y ago
I second the headspace app. I still occasionally use it for days I need to be guided into meditation
red_matrix 5y ago
Lifting weights puts me in a nice zen/meditative state.
sadshark 5y ago
Dont wanna burst your bubble, but, no, it doesn't.
SmoothBacon 5y ago
You do an hour long meditation?!? I struggle with 5-10 minutes right now.
MessianicJuice 5y ago
Also who the fuck has time to sit and do nothing for an hour?
sadshark 5y ago
Incremental increases. When I started 4 months ago I could barely do 15 minutes. Then 15 minutes weren't enough, then 20 minutes weren't enough.
Now, I'm doing 25 minutes daily and the minutes pass like a breeze. I don't even acknowledge time, like it doesn't even exist. My mind still glances over the thought 'how many minutes left?', but it immediately goes back to the breath.
showerdudes9 5y ago
What is time? You are time. I am time. We are time. There is no time. Time is everything.
Ihatemoi 5y ago
how do you make time for meditation? Where and when do you meditate?
KarmicPrism 5y ago
How do you make time for meditation? Well, anywhere where you can spend 10-30 minutes alone and quiet. Usually waking up 20 minutes early meditating for 10 minutes, and going about your day. Then at night right before you hit the pillow another 10 minutes. Increasing the time little by little as you go along and grow. It's as easy as finding 10 minutes of quiet time which is pretty darn easy. People Complicate things too much. How much time do you spend a day watching shows YouTube, Facebook or even wanking it?You are the master of your life, use your time as you wish. No excuses. Build the routine and dint skip a day. You'll love yourself for it.
MisplacedSanityP 5y ago
Look great from mediation? Not sure about that one. What do you think is the amount of time you ideally should spend on meditation a day?
j_arbuckle2012 5y ago
1 hr/day minimum if you're serious about reaping some life-changing benefits.
30 min/day minimum if you just want a way to clear your head and tackle your day.
Intermediates take their meditation with them in their daily lives.
NormalAndy 5y ago
It does a lot for peoples faces. I notice how much lighter they are. But it’s noticeable in a ‘looking great holding frame’ kind of way.
I’ve not found an upper limit yet. Lucky if I can get an hour in each morning but I have not regretted it yet. I began just trying to see if I could manage an hour once a week a while ago. It made my day just fall into place in such a way that I rip myself out of bed super early to get it in whenever I can.
For me, 30 minutes to clean away all the shit and another 30 minutes to practice at a level more ‘in the zone’ - ie fewer internal interruptions. Once that is done, I’m indestructible!
turtle-temptation 5y ago
They say if you dont have time to meditate for an hour a day, you should meditate for two hours.
TheDroogie 5y ago
Fair point. What we do know is stress beats us down: day after day, year after year and that we are often wear that stress on our face and bodies.
Meditation gives us a chance to break the cycle, and that may manifest in how we look, feel and act.
ArdAtak 5y ago
Agreed. If your meditation helps you get deep sleep it will definitely affect your HGH levels and skin tone.
MisplacedSanityP 5y ago
I totally agree in a round about way, it can make you look better. It doesn’t do it directly though like lifting does. It’s misleading to copy and paste the same statement as if it’s comparable in that category. I would even go as far to say there can't be any dichotomy made. Like if you had to pick one, it wouldn't even be close as lifting both helps you look a lot better than meditation ever could and helps with the mind. Though I certainly get why the dichotomy was attempted, adds to the impact.
NormalAndy 5y ago
Yeh- I went out on a limb a bit to gild the lily. I could try a nice swerve though: focus is the cornerstone of lifting and meditation and meditation is the cornerstone of focus. The implication is that meditation will improve your lifts so you’re gonna look even better. Do I get away with that? Thought not... :-)
(Actually, it’s also more likely to get your organizational shit intact so you turn up for the iron more often.)
The thing about the ‘mind muscle’ is you can never see it- but it will put a rocket under many other areas of your life.
[deleted] 5y ago
Dude, when i am present in meditative state i immediately notice what my body requires to get to homeostasis, and i instantly do whatever i need to relax my body fully. It's incredible.. some people pay hundreds for spas and vacations and they dont get the benefits i get from just letting go of thinking and realizing what i need right now. Because the now is the only thing that ever exists, my dude. I recover faster after working out because i lie down and fully relax every single muscle consciously and if i get an urge to move or get up and do something i kill the urge through my present focus and relax as deeply as fucking possible. Its absolutely incredible and i wish everyone here experiences it at least once. And when i eat, oh my god do i eat. When you're present during eating, those last hundred or so grams of carbs and protein you need to hit your macros are so damn easy, because you're just focused on the food until its finished. Not distracted by your phone, by the music outside, by the retards, by everything, just focused on the god damn present moment and aware of your environment. So yes, meditation increases presence which increases your ability to be so in touch with your body that you are like a jaguar: constantly ready to pounce at any moment because your body is fully rested and growing at the same time.
red_matrix 5y ago
How'd you stop the interruptions and mind wandering?
[deleted] 5y ago
Right. At first, I could only do it with the help of marijuana. It forced me to breathe, otherwise I'd feel uneasy, mind spinning in every direction and have anxiety attacks. So once I could navigate it by breathing and becoming present in the moment, I was able to program my mind and body to automatically breathe very deep when I start to feel uneasy and anxious, and it brings me back to that joyous present state of awareness in the Now. Basically after suffering through dozens of panic attacks I learned how to breathe through stressful situations, sort of like how joe rogan breathes when hes lifting kettlebells but deeper and longer.
sadshark 5y ago
You dont. That's the point of meditation. You dont fight your thoughts or will them away. You let them come as they want to come but as soon as you notice your mind wandering you immediately go back to focusing on your breath.
By doing this daily you train a the brain like a muscle to be aware of when your thoughts stray and be able to bring back your attention to whatever you are doing be it eating, lifting, pushing through pain, being present in conversations and so on.
stokeDpoke 5y ago
I can go two hours sometimes when i completely lose myself in meditation. I'd reckon trying it for just 10 mins everyday. When i started out, listening to method of Alan Watts helped quite a bit.
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oinkd 5y ago
Beginners start with 15 minutes a session. Then build up gradually from there. How much sessions a day is up to you.
Ianchez 5y ago
Yup, I started with 15, now doing 22min sessions.
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MisplacedSanityP 5y ago
Oh damn, I wouldn't doubt them, otherwise they may throw their chi at me.
[deleted] 5y ago
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MisplacedSanityP 5y ago
That's not the connotation people have with meditation and it's clearly not what OP was talking about. Meditation(as in sitting and focusing) doesn't have the same direct benefit in looking better as lifting does is my point.
swejap 5y ago
Nah. I need the physical activity.
rawheat01 5y ago
I have been trying different meditation techniques since I was in my 20s..never stuck with one..had amazing experiences..but they were just experiences.. If you are even half way serious abt knowing yoga, I would highly recommend you guys to take a look at ISHA yoga.... and Sadhguru..he is a realized master..and the yoga is simple and life changing.. He is coming to bay area on Nov 3rd and 4th..to do shambhavi mahamudra initiation.. Lfl..https://youtu.be/A4xqKI8JjbI Hope to see you guys there..
TimmyTurnersNuts 5y ago
And here I was thinking my measly ass 10-20 mins a day was effective. I’ll ramp up my efforts. 1 hour a day. No matter what
bemore_ 5y ago
Basically you're saying lifting whatever weight you are now is ineffective, you need to ramp up the weight 3-6 times that. You will burnout in a a couple days. It's best to move from where you are. Keep an hour of meditation as a goal and work towards it
NormalAndy 5y ago
Just aim to do an hour once a week- say on a Saturday. You’ll find it easier to gradually add it like that and, if it helps then you’ll find it easier to make the time to do it on other days.
crg1017 5y ago
Was seriously going to post to AskTRP for advice on meditation and saw this post.
What is the best/favorite program you have found for someone just getting started with meditation? Book? Video? App?
Thanks in advance.
sadshark 5y ago
A lot of people recommend the headspace app. I would only recommend it when you start out and even then I suggest you don't use it. It's much better if you can do it on your own instead of being guided, however, guidance can help you in the beginning.
Go to the meditation subreddit and in their sidebar theres a book called 'meditation in plain english' or something along those lines. Read that first, it will make you understand better what to expect, a bit of history, a bit of science and practical advice.
But you need to realize that in the end YOU ALONE do the meditation. No app, no book, no guru will do it for you.
The most important thing is perseverance. Do it everyday, no excuses, never quit and cement in your mind the idea that you will meditate even when you're 90 years old.
When you start meditating don't do it with the mindset that you will try it out for a week. Instead start with the mindset that you are going to do it for the rest of your life, like eating, drinking, sleeping... it's just part of your daily life.
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NormalAndy 5y ago
I chucked some stuff up on the edit
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dongpal 5y ago
Someone experience with TM?
KewlThanks 5y ago
Meditation is lifting for the mind, it makes it stronger and more able to handle things.
Scorptice 5y ago
A mind-set consists of mind-reps and needs progressive overload to work.
ZigzagLumen 5y ago
I'm boxing three times a week and doing running in between, not seeing much opportunity to fit in lifting as well
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Having not seriously lifted for a good few years now, does anyone think I'll still be getting the same mental benefits from this training compared to lifting?
NormalAndy 5y ago
Reckon if there was a boxing gym near me again, I would kick the weights into touch for a while. Boxing is hardcore.
sadshark 5y ago
I think contact sports do more for the mind that just lifting. I lift 3 days a week and do MMA the other 3 days a week with meditation each morning every day.
After I lift, my body feels good, energized, and I am proud of my achievements and the way I look.
After MMA training, when I get out, I feel like punching a car. I feel indestructible, motivated and that 'fuck yeah I can do anything' feeling.
Both are good for the mind, but when paired with meditation their benefit is increased tenfold.
ZigzagLumen 5y ago
Yeah after boxing I feel such mental clarity and DGAF attitude, completely different feeling after to when I used to lift.
My trainer was stressing the other day how important the running is
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In an ideal world I'd run 2 or 3 times a week in the AM before work, then alternate lifting and boxing 3 days each throughout the week in the evening
Theophagist 5y ago
Meditation is a waste of time, you can perform meditative functions, get the same psychological benefits, and get something done. Build a model or something. Play a musical instrument. Anything but nothing.
whuttupfoo 5y ago
Boy you are wrong. Meditation is the most important habit you can build, over lifting. Everything becomes easy mode after you reach samadhi, even launching a business.
Theophagist 5y ago
Yes it's the handy dandy magical mystical cure-all that provides instant results for everything! Meditation "masters" themselves will tell you that it takes many many hundreds of hours to really benefit your overall mindfulness. Such mindfulness can and has been achieved through other means, especially ones that don't require you to spend time sitting there doing nothing.
I've heard the mantra we all have. Let's have some substance in an argument rather than the ad nauseam repetition of redpill-man virtue signals.
And furthermore, meditation and lifting over reading? Really? No wonder I have to have this argument.
Eagle-513 5y ago
Honestly I agree. In the book power of now meditation is simply being present in the moment. Lifting pulls you into focusing on the here and now if you know how to think in a certain way
NikGrd 5y ago
I strongly believe that a lof of the things people do are just other variations of meditation- letting go of your thoughts. Some do it in the gym, others playing a musical instruments, hell, even smoking can get you out of your head for awhile. We have an innate desire to unload the pressure from constant awareness and thought.
sadshark 5y ago
While I agree with you on some extent... those activities are not meditation, they are distractions or 'day dreaming'.
whuttupfoo 5y ago
It really isn’t the same thing. Meditation is a specific skill building practice. The sole purpose of meditation is to aim your attention at one point for an extended period of time, that one point being your breath at the nostrils. It’s not about letting go of your thoughts. Its not about getting out of your head. It’s about creating this solid, unwavering focus. It’s essentially a staring contest with your breath.
thebadmanpuntdbaxter 5y ago
Keep speculating on duration and routine if you want to go mad. Eyes shut, loose mind and let the world in
Brickles09 5y ago
I meditate for 1 hour every day, while running 10K, I do the Wim Hoff method.