Τhe Mind-Muscle Connection

Have you heard of the Mind-Muscle Connection?

The mind-muscle connection refers to synchronizing your body and your mind to achieve the best result during your workout. Here we will analyze this connection and discuss why it is important, no matter what exercise program you follow.

What is the Mind-Muscle Connection or MMC?

The mind-muscle connection occurs where the mind meets the body. Since the brain controls movement, the first step to muscle contraction is a signal sent from your brain to your muscles, telling them to contract. The brain releases a neurotransmitter, called acetylcholine, to communicate with the muscles in your body. The more you can improve the mind-muscle communication, the more muscle fibers you will recruit. When stimulated, acetylcholine leads to a set of processes that control muscle contraction.

If there are distractions or lack of connection between the body and the mind, you are not making the most of your exercises. If you go to the gym to train your muscles but are not mentally prepared to do so, you will not have the results you expect from your workout. Your muscle fibers cannot get the right messages to develop your muscles effectively. When you move your muscles during an exercise, that’s natural. When you really put your mind into it and think about what you do, this is the connection of muscle fibers to your mind that will take your workout and your body to the next level.

Why the Mind-Muscle Connection matters

The connection between mind and body is one of the most important aspects of training. Ignoring this connection can be almost the same as missing a workout. People often wonder how some have excellent results by doing exercises on their own, often without any equipment. The answer lies in this mind-body connection.

This mind-body connection is something worth taking seriously. What your mind thinks determines your future, your limitations, and your potential. This connection is common in some forms of exercise, such as yoga or martial arts, but it must be taken very seriously in other types of exercise as well. Seeing the mind separately from your body can be detrimental to your success. When you start seeing them as one, you will accelerate your progress and get much more out of your workouts.

How to maximize your mind-muscle connection in your workouts

Focus on your training!

Talking between sets or thinking about what to do after training can get your mind off your training zone and actually make you miss a lot of the benefits of the workout. You need to focus on what you are doing and be there in the moment. When you feel your mind drifting, stop what you are doing, breathe, and concentrate on what you are doing.

Become one with your muscles

Whatever muscle group you are using, put your mind in the state of becoming one with the part of the body you are training. Think about each muscle, how it reacts and how it develops. Focus more on the mind-body connection rather than intensifying the exercise.

Feed your mind with positive thoughts

Cherish your body and mind with positive thoughts that can keep you in an excellent state, full of positive energy. Start every day by nourishing your mind before you feed your body. A simple positive morning thought will help you develop a stronger mind-muscle connection and achieve more effective workouts.

It’s all about the right mindset

Harnessing your mind-muscle connection can take your training to the next level. It’s all about your mindset. Go to your workout with the right mindset and watch your body change. You cannot achieve success without a strong mindset, which translates into better training and attention to detail and greater success. It’s easy to think of your training as just a physical exercise, but it’s actually a very mental exercise, almost spiritual rather than physical. Learning to be disciplined will optimize your workouts and allow you to take your body to another level. If you need some help starting and incorporating a strong Mind-Body connection into your workout, you can join an eXtreme Fitness Camp in the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean, and truly explore this bond in this exotic environment. The welcoming community at the Fitness Camps can show you the way to a deep mind-body connection that can improve the quality of your everyday life.

References

Arizona State University, The Mind-Muscle Connection, https://wellness.asu.edu/blog/mind-muscle-connection

Science Daily, The mind-muscle connection: For aesthetes, not athletes? https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190809085749.htm

You Are UNLTD, Understanding the mind-muscle connection and making it work for you, https://www.youareunltd.com/2018/10/05/understanding-the-mind-muscle-connection-and-making-it-work-for-you/

ACE Fitness, The mind-muscle connection, https://www.acefitness.org/education-and-resources/lifestyle/blog/7388/the-mind-muscle-connection