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The mind-muscle connection (unplugging and escaping through exercise)

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Preface: Many of you know me as the producer and a host on SOFREP Radio, and on a recent episode with Alex Hollings talking his “Old Man Fitness” series I tapped into my philosophy on working out as a way to unplug and escape from the monotony of our day to day living routine. I can’t really take credit for these ideas, they’re not my own. My philosophy on fitness is drawn from many different things I’ve read or heard from various sources over the years. There’s really too many to even name, I take what I can use from people of all different walks of life, some of whom I’ve had the honor to interview. I feel I could write an entire book on this wisdom I’ve picked up from other great minds, but for the sake of this article, I’m going to stick to the more specific topic of mindfulness, or the mind-muscle connection. Enjoy!

It’s Friday night, and while others are out partying or relaxing, I’m genuinely excited to be done with the work week, and ready to get a great workout in at an emptier gym than usual. Some may assume that I have nothing better to do, but to the contrary, I’ve skipped out on plans to make this happen. Sure, I’ll make time to hang with some friends tomorrow at some point, but right now I need this and will enjoy this. People may wonder, how do you possibly enjoy this? They hate the gym, and see exercise almost as a necessary evil to stay looking decent, and for their overall long-term health. Well, I didn’t grow up an athlete, nor someone particularly driven, but through hard times in my life, different pearls of wisdom have entered my psyche trying to find some motivation in various memoirs, interviews, and spiritual teachings. One of the most crucial of these ideas that morphed me was mindfulness.

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Comments

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  • Ian Scotto

    Thanks Neil!

  • James Walper

    Gym (or doing yard work) is where I listen to SOFREP Radio.

  • Neil E

    Great job, Ian. I really like listening to your point of view on the podcasts and u really nailed it here. I have a very similar approach/ thought process about fitness in my life. Also, the Henry Rollins reference was great. Keep up the excellent work!

  • Joni S

    Really great article, Ian. The gym is a therapy session. You put into words what I think each time I go to the gym. It's the only time I can't multitask and it's such a relief. I can only focus on what my body is doing. I'm in complete control and that seems so rare. It's like breathing fresh air after you have been stuck indoors all day. I fully agree that it is the best anti-depressant there is with all positive side effects. I'm very protective of my gym time and my family knows this about me. When life interferes (and it will), I can always tell my mental game suffers. I've had to miss this past two weeks but I have been able to go walking. It's better than nothing and keeps some level of sanity. My workout has helped me recover from a lot of different things and I guess it's being back in tune with your mind and body. In my workout, I form a protective shell from the outside world. I'm alone and I just have to do what my body has in front of it. Nothing to interfere, or interrupt. No one to tell me no you can't. Just me some weights or a yoga mat or a mixed martial arts cardio class where I can kick my bad day's ass.

  • Ian Scotto

    Thanks Mic!