I think it’s easy to fall into the torque of Crossfit. It’s a very powerful engine. We try to hit PRs. Chase leaderboard scores. Follow specialized programming. Strict diets. All in the hopes to get stronger and faster as fast as we can. And I get it and it’s all great BUT if you are not aware of where you’re at and the impact your daily routine has on your body and especially mind, you can easily begin to fight instead of flow.
As with anything in life, when you fight, force, or pull from a contrived place, you’ll never be at your potential. It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about relationships or a chipper Wod. You fight enough, mostly with yourself, and you’ll eventually hit a wall, creating a giant mental block. Right behind this block, a very loud inner critic. Now you’re forcing yourself to do things that you know may be unhealthy or don’t feel right. Your knuckles will become white. Your face red. And the stakes grow. Pressure will build. Performance will not.
All growth starts with awareness. Practicing mindfulness in Crossfit can better your performance and experience. So what does it mean to be mindful in Crossfit?
The amount of time you spend inside the box and the way you’ve threaded it into your life makes Crossfit a practice. Not just a workout program. And like any practice, it requires awareness and attention. Are you allowing yourself to notice your mind, breath, and body as you wod? Or do you just pound through chasing numbers? Do you allow your inner critic to bash you every time you leave the box? Fun factor. Is it still there or has it changed? Do you constantly compare yourself to everyone around you? Are you using your Crossfit to dissolve fears and rewire the way you think, so that you can apply those changes to other areas of your life?
The Chinese define mindfulness as presence of heart.
How presence is your heart in the box?
Try doing a Wod in complete silence, only listening to your breath, your heart, and nothing else.
– Angry