COMPLETE THE MENTAL BOOK Tom Wujec Exercises to Improve Your Brain Power FITNESS [...]... thumb to improve your exercise routine TIP ONE Change out of your mental street clothes Leave your problems and concerns outside in the locker room Adopt the workout attitude by intending to strengthen yourself Delight in the difficulties that you choose for yourself TIP TWO Exercise — don't analyze Since the whole point of mental exercise is consciously to manipulate your mental resources, do the exercises. .. through your spine, from your tail bone to the top of your head Picture a horizontal line passing through your chest, from one shoulder to the other, and another horizontal line through your hips, from one leg socket to the other Visualize that the cross is made from a strong and flexible metal that twists and flexes as your body moves To relax, you simply allow the cross to find its natural position, your. .. just there, completely mentally present The key to relaxing your body is to focus on the physical sensation of relaxation If you follow what's going on in your head, you may tend to be distracted by the momentum of your thoughts But if you sink into your sensations, paying close attention to what your body feels like — on the surface and deep inside — your thinking begins to slow down A good way to focus... picture, the more deeply you relax Continue visualizing the rest of your body: your chest, back, stomach, legs, knees, and toes Remember, there is no need to rush, just let yourself enjoy the experience of touring your body Once you finish picturing your toes, visualize your entire body as a relaxed, sentient statue Immerse yourself in the sensations of full relaxation fust let go Put the book down,... The key to mental fitness is to develop a good set of habits that help you get to where you want to go Mentally fit people can exert themselves whenever they want to They are interested in how the world works and why things happen the way they do They enjoy a wide range of interests They also know how to change habits through conscious, deliberate action and can form effective tendencies, such as the. .. back to your sensations Allow yourself to let go completely and to sink deeply into the warm feeling of relaxation Recirculate your sensations back into your sensations: Become so quiet inside that you can feel your heart beat throughout your body 27 As your- attention becomes clearer with each breath, turn it to relaxing specific parts of your body Begin by mentally picturing your face Visualize your. .. thought, creativity, brainstorming, and a bit of Zen, all rolled into one When you want to put your ideas into action, you need mental endurance Mental staying power is the ability to sustain an increased level of activity without getting distracted or discouraged It's the capacity to persist, to go the full mile And when you want to add precision and flair, you need mental coordination Mental coordination... yourself, a time to turn your focus inward and challenge your mind It's a way to channel your mental energy into constructive thought Whether you want to work hard to reach peak mental performance, or to stretch out a bit to become more flexible, good old-fashioned mental exertion can enhance your creativity, give you a sense of accomplishment, and improve your state of mind 20 Creating Your Own Personal... daily workout' 17 A habit is simply the tendency to do something without having to think about it Like it or not, your whole life, from the way you brush your teeth to the way you strive towards long-term goals, depends largely on your personal repertoire of automatic tendencies It has to Could you imagine having to relearn how to brush your teeth every day? Your mental life — what you notice, how much... hips Then slowly shift your attention to your breath Focus on the sensation of air passing through your nostrils /Is you inhale and exhale, allow your breathing to become calmer and more even Don't try to force your breath, fust allow it to be natural and fluid Each time a distracting thought passes through your mind, use it as a reminder to return your attention to your body Gently lead the focus ofyour . COMPLETE THE MENTAL BOOK Tom Wujec Exercises to Improve Your Brain Power FITNESS