There are many ways our bodies communicate with us, but today I want to discuss MINDFUL EXERCISE. ••• Are you paying attention to the way your body feels during your workout? Or are you just following a set program? ••• I often have people come to me frustrated when they have been working out consistently, whether it be taking group fitness classes or following a workout program, with little to no results. ••• Although nutrition plays a factor in these situations, There is also a high likelihood that these people are not pushing their bodies to a level of intensity that will create change! ••• So how do we know if we are at the right intensity to create an adaptations? ••• MINDFUL EXERCISE! Listening to your body during your workouts and adjusting the weight or reps to create that intensity! ••• Here are a few ways to be more mindful during your workouts! ••• 1. Check in with your weight selection- are you going heavy enough? Your set should be challenging enough that your last 3-5 reps should be REALLY challenging to complete, but not so challenging that your form is compromised. 2. Check in with your heart rate- is your heart rate increased when you work out? Are you out of. Death by the end of a set? If not, you may need to add more weight or more reps. 3. Check in with the muscle group you are working- are you feeling a pump (muscle expansion) in that muscle group when you complete a set? If not, you need to focus on contracting (isolating and squeezing) the muscle that you are trying to work during each rep. 4. Are you feeling fatigued by the end of your workout? Though all workouts count, not all workouts are created equal. If you want to create change in your body, you need to push your body to fatigue by the end of your workout! Change only happens when you are uncomfortable! 5. Check in with your MOOD- working out with intensity increases feel good hormones and decreases stress hormones. If you leave your workout still feeling stressed, you did not workout hard enough. ••• Listen to your body and it will tell you what you need to do to push yourself! ••• Next topic- INTUITIVE EATING! #trainertip #mindfulexercise #fitlife #fitness #lifestylechange