When you are training in martial arts, you will notice that the necessary skills don’t exist in the vacuum of your classes. There are many ways to benefit your mind, body, and spirit throughout daily life, and you may find exploring them brings drastic physical and mental improvement to your in-class work.
Here are five practices that will help you when class time comes around.
Eating Healthy
Your preferred diet should vary based on what level of physical activity you are engaged in. If you train daily, a high carb diet may be necessary to provide fuel to your exploits. A balanced and lighter diet applies to a more balanced and lighter training regimen. Whatever your diet choice and physical goals are, eating healthy options that satisfy the terms of your diet is crucial to feeling energized and ready to train. Also, vitamins and plenty of water go a long way in the gym!
Doing Yoga
If you’re a martial artist and yoga seems slow or like a waste of time, you’re mistaken. In fact, time spent attending to ailing muscles is crucial for a long life of training. Additionally, yoga promotes a peace of mind and patience which can come in handy during intense training sessions. Additionally, all forms of martial arts benefit from enhanced flexibility.
Working Out at a Different Gym
While training is often a holistic workout in nature, some people may benefit from additional weight lifting and core work. Increased strength, endurance, and general physical fitness is helpful in all forms of martial arts. And while technique is critical in all these forms, deft moves are more effective when coming from stronger fighters.
Learning from Media
There are millions of resources for engaging in martial arts outside of class. Many people find martial arts media incredibly insightful and entertaining. Watching fights or lessons online can be a great way to improve and inspire yourself (though YouTube is no substitute for a skilled trainer). Training books and films also exist in spades. An entertaining fighting documentary may even invigorate you for your next practice!
Resting When Needed
No one can be “on” all the time. Even the most skilled martial artists take time to relax their bodies and minds. Physically, your body does much of its muscle building during rest, and a consistent resting schedule will ensure longevity of bones, tendons and joints. Yoga helps too! Additionally, meditation can calm the mind and provide an inner peace that’s conducive to productive training.
All in all, listen to your body and your mind, and try to answer the calls. If something isn’t feeling right inside of you during a lesson, it might be helped or solved by adjusting a habit outside of the gym!