It is not just hard training that makes a select soldier ready for battle, spirited and resilient. Rest is mandatory, as is proper breathing. See why.
Mark Divine, 55, is a veteran of the Navy SEALs’ elite team and holds a black belt in two martial arts – Seido and Goju Ryu Karate. He is also the founder of SEALFIT , a training program that is basically used by recruits but has been adopted by many elite athletes and CEOs, in order to develop beyond fitness, mental endurance and confidence. Here, Divine reveals some of the secrets that will maximize the essence of your workouts.
Learn to take advantage of every milligram of oxygen you inhale
“If you need the maximum mental strength to start and successfully complete a really hard workout or a race, you need to focus deep inside. “And that starts with the right breathing technique, ” says Divine. ” Breathing is the link between body and mind and therefore requires a few minutes of self-concentration with complete immobility, a process that will clear your mind and build the necessary self-confidence .”
Divine has developed a four-step method of breathing for self-concentration:
1. You remove all the air from your lungs and hold them empty for five seconds.
2. Inhale through the nose slowly and harmoniously for five seconds.
3. Hold the air inside you for five seconds.
4. Exhale smoothly through the nose until empty and repeat all steps for at least five minutes.
” This is something you can do not only before a workout or a race, but also before an important meeting at work, ” says Divine.
Taste your workouts
” Doing the same monotonous program every day in the gym kills motivation and poisons the result, ” says Divine. ” By adding alternative or completely different exercises to your workout – such as yoga, swimming or weights (if you are a runner) – you push your body out of the routine and therefore respond better to stimuli .”
Feed the monster
“Eat a little, but very often during the day so as not to run out of energy, but also not to store fat in your body. Combine protein with carbohydrates and beneficial fats at every meal or snack and add extra fruits, vegetables and water. This way you will be sure of the benefits that your muscles receive from hard training “, advises Divine.
Rest is vital for your psychosomatic empowerment
“Once you make sure you are stocked with the essential ingredients you lose after a workout, stay away from the gym all day the next day. “Rest is part of your training routine,” says Divine. “If you are not the type who can sit idle for even an hour, try stretching exercises working even more hours on breathing techniques. You can even go for a walk in nature. “Marines walk miles to relieve a long and arduous mission,” says Divine.
