Can You Use Online Videos to Learn Meditation

 

You may be pleased to learn that you don't need to join a class to get started in meditation practice. On the contrary, this is a skill you can learn in the comfort of your own home. Some of the best meditation instructors have uploaded informative online videos to the web. The best of these videos are designed to be accessible for people who are completely new to meditation practice. 

Although traditional forms of meditation call for assuming a seated lotus position, you can actually meditate just as well while sitting normally. Even though meditation comes to us from ancient religious traditions in the Eastern world, you don't have to possess any religious sentiments to master meditating. Meditation is often incorporated into more comprehensive programs that include yoga or martial arts. Nevertheless, is is perfectly fine to engage in meditation on its own. 

Meditation takes a variety of different forms, which partly explains the versatility of this ancient practice. Many meditation lessons for beginners involve the use of guided imagery. While this makes for a fine starting point, you should quickly move on to traditional meditation. Traditional forms typically involves focusing on discrete words or phrases. As you progress in your development, you can engage with the mythology and spirituality of meditation as little or as much as you like. In online videos, some meditation teachers frame their explanations of meditative effects in mystical terms. However one frames this discussion, there can be no doubt that meditating is associated with scientifically proven benefits for your mind and body. To date, researchers have published quite a few studies confirming the effectiveness of meditation. 

Psychologically speaking, meditation can help you achieve great focus and concentration. If you've ever found your mind wandering during a particularly dull or difficult work meeting, meditation could help you stay on point. Better focus isn't just useful for students or people in classroom settings. Arguably, having better focus helps you live more fully at any stage of life. Because meditation is an inherently relaxing activity, it is a great aid for people who struggle with anxiety or clinical depression. Even if you are just going through a temporary downturn in your mood, online videos dealing with meditation can help you move forward with confidence and strength. 

There is no hard and fast rule about how long your meditation sessions should last. While many teachers recommend meditating for 30 minutes per day, you may enjoy this practice so much that you end up meditating for much longer. Naturally, the specifics of your schedule will help determine the exact length of your practice sessions. Although you can certainly meditate at home, you shouldn't think that meditation classes are totally lacking in value. As with any other type of skill or practice, meditation is a practice that you may enjoy more in a group setting. After all, people are social creatures. Whether you go to your class alone or with a friend, this is a place where you can associate with other like-minded people. In meditation, many people make friendships that last for a long time.

How to Use Your Diet to Benefit Before, During, and After Running

What you eat before, during, and after running can have a great impact on your health and your overall performance. Running is a high endurance exercise and your body needs the right fuel to perform well and to recover afterwards. Even if you are just out jogging at a slow pace, you should fuel your body with what it needs.

What To Eat Before Running

If you are going to run for more than an hour, you should take the time to load up on some good carbs about two hours before you go out for the run. Eat a bowl of oatmeal with a banana or a bowl of pasta and some veggies. Make sure that you drink at least eight ounces of water. Hydration is very important to exercise success. The glycogen contained in the carbs will be used as fuel during your run.

What To Eat While Running

Unless you are running a marathon or half marathon or for more than two hours, you should probably avoid doing anything other than drinking water or sports drinks while you are running. If you are running for two hours or more, it is important that you take a protein bar with you, or two depending on the length of time. You need to restore your protein and carbs to keep your energy levels high. You should also sip on a low calorie sports drink to replaenish your electrolytes.

What To Eat After Your Run

When you are done exercising, it is also important to replenish your body of the fuel that it used so that it can continue to make energy and burn calories. Eat another high carb meal that also has a balance of 3 to 1 with proteins. This will help your muscles to recover and store more glycogen for future energy use.

The Most Important Things To Remember

Regardless of how experienced of a runner you are, or how far you run each time, it is very important that you stay properly hydrated for optimal performance. Your body needs the glycogen for fuel and water to ensure that all of your organs perform properly. Being dehydrated can lead to serious risks to your health before, during or after your run.

If you are going to drink sports drinks, you are encouraged to look for low calorie alternatives. The important part of the sports drink is the electrolytes, not the sugar for energy. You have already fuels your body with the right type of carbs and do not need sugar to enhance this energy level. Remember, only drink these types of drinks during or after you run. You really do not need to replenish your electrolytes before you run.

There is one final thing to remember before you run for optimal performance. When you load up on carbs before you run, make sure to give your body at least two hours to process what you eat. It takes your body a minimum of two hours to absorb the glycogen and get it ready to burn as energy. Giving yourself at least two hours between your meal and running will also reduce the risk of cramping from having a full stomach.