Does state influence exercise?

We all know that doing exercise in some shape or form can be great for our health but why is it important to be in the right state?

Well, there are a number of reasons. Firstly, however you are feeling will control your hormonal balance, the level of cortisol, adrenal function and this manipulates how your body creates and thrives with energy. Already, just by thinking in the right way you will make massive strides towards getting your body to deliver the right response for you whether it be weight loss, increase stamina or strength. It is true that being upset, angry or depressed increases fat storage. Think of it like this, primally, times that would stress the mind and body would be starvation or being under threat. As a coping mechanism, the body would realise this and store fat as a means of survival.

Secondly, your state dictates your mental energy, neuromuscular focus and your muscular response. If you want to go running but you're feeling lousy, worthless or upset then your body won't be operating properly. You'll have less access to energy reserves, your body will be at greater risk of injury and you'll be missing out on a heightened sense of control physically.

So, how do you adopt the right state for what you want? Well, state should be situational just like many things. By matching your state to the task in hand then you'll be setting all your internal control settings to the right coordinates. If you are wanting to stretch and increase flexibility then you should be relaxed, decresing muscular and neurological tension. If you're going to lift weights then feeling strong, decisive and engaged would help make your body alert, fired up and present.

By taking a few minutes prior to exercising and reflecting on the type of exercise in hand, you can start to identify what state is needed. Once you know the state, then think back to a time when you had this, put yourself mentally back in that state and walk with it into the new session.

Again, primally, fight or flight responses would control the mental state relative to the situation accordingly to give the body what it needs. In times of danger, being alert to move quickly, be strong and decisive would improve the likelyhood of survival. Just because modern lifestyle doesn't involve the same dangers or conerns doesn't mean that the bodies requirements aren't the same.

As a final thought, focus and engagement are important but don't ignore the importance of play. Being social, fun and interactive with movement is very much a natural thing and should be incorporated into your habits.

Phill