by Ellen Como

Ellen Como is a Santa Clarita Personal Trainer and has been in the fitness industry for over 30 years. She writes a weekly column, published on hometownstation.com and on her personal website, ellencomo.com.

One surprising thing to add to your fitness routine for ultimate benefits is meditation.

If I told you there is a simple act you can do everyday to reduce stress and add to your happiness without doing a thing, would you like to try it?

Meditation is a powerful tool. It is a simple and effortless process where you connect to the silence and peace within yourself.  This allows you to give the parts of you away that are standing in your way of becoming the person you are meant to be.  We live in a very self-absorbed environment and when you meditate your full purpose of why you are here starts to become evident.

One of the greatest skills you can accomplish is being still.  Stilling your mind and allowing the spirit to reveal things about yourself to move you into the direction you should be going brings great peace to your hearts.  You are not here to serve yourselves you are here to serve others with your purpose this opens up your ability to receive trustfulness, peacefulness, kindness, joy and even love.

It’s a scientific fact that when we meditate the white matter increases in the crown cingulate cortex of the brain.  This is where self-regulation to control moods comes from, among other things.  So not only is meditation a spiritual good idea but is also a scientific one.

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Some of the scientific benefits of meditation are:

• Reduces stress, depression and anxiety
• Reduces physical pain
• Slows Alzheimer’s disease
• Improves memory
• Reduces cholesterol
• Prevents cardiovascular disease
• Strengthens your immune system
• Lowers blood pressure

So you see the benefits are vast both spiritually and scientifically.  When I realized this I felt I had no choice but to add this to my business in every way.

A very big part of my fitness business is teaching wellness, which includes sleep, nutrition and exercise.  Recently I have added meditation to all the workouts I teach in my gym whether it is a group or private session.  I am also including it in the fitness training programs and Fitness plans for all my clients.  Especially for my Menopause fitness clients.

There is nothing you need to know to get started other then to put on some soft music, find a comfortable position and be still.  This will be easier for some of you then for others but it won’t take long for you to start feeling and seeing the benefits.  There are different forms of meditation.  I lead the quiet individual meditation where each one of my clients gets to be still in their own way I don’t give them a word, phrase or chant.  It’s a very quiet time after an intense workout.

I love seeing the glowing peaceful faces of my clients when they are done meditating.  They are rejuvenated from the workout and anything else they walked in the door with.  If meditation is not part of your daily practice I would highly recommend you add it.  And, I cannot think of a better time then at the end of your workout.

Ellen Como has been in the fitness industry in Santa Clarita for over 30 years.  With her experience working in Gyms and as a personal trainer she has developed fitness training programs and fitness plans for men and woman of all ages.    Her passion is creating overall wellness in all her clients and sharing menopause fitness with women going through all the phases of menopause. Visit her website for latest news, products, and personal training at ellencomo.com.