Best Macrobiotic Exercises

Exercise which complements your macrobiotic diet lifestyle should include exercise that you enjoy, as mentioned previously, and it should also help you get in touch with your spiritual self. Whether appreciating your life or the life around you, physical activity is not only beneficial for your physical health. Scientific studies have proven that exercise affects mood and emotions in addition to the physical body, improving overall health.

However, these are traditional exercises, and others can also use the same principles to achieve mindfulness. Try chi running or walking, which helps to bring awareness and better breathing practices to these activities.

There are many different styles of yoga, ranging from meditative to demanding strength. Though the pace and poses differ between the styles of yoga, the principles remain the same; a focus is placed on breathing, and thus on being in-touch with the body.

Similarly, in pilates, a focus is placed on body-awareness, which includes breathing. Both strengthening and stretching the muscles which generate movement, focusing on posture and breathing is a part of the macrobiotic lifestyle.

Another exercise recommended is total-immersion swimming, which also helps to keep the body connected to the mind while exercising. Practising total-immersion swimming is said to help relax the mind, and help keep it sharper as we age.

One should practice one or a few of these exercise modalities several times per week, in moderate amounts. This helps to maintain a balanced, healthful lifestyle.

Clothing and Macrobiotic Exercise

According to the macrobiotic lifestyle, the body needs to be able to breathe. As such, clothing considerations should be made for your exercises. Rather than picking up the latest fashions, fabrics which are natural, like cotton, breathable and organic, should be your choice. Avoid synthetic and stretch materials, which constrict the skin. 

Mindfulness

The most important part of macrobiotic diet and exercise is to be mindful at all times. Aside from eating a balanced diet, preparing foods in a natural way and maintaining regular, moderate activity, a persons outlook on life is significant as well.

In addition to mindful physical activity, be sure to practice breathing exercises regularly. Each day, spend a few minutes meditating in some form or another. This can be done first thing in the morning to prepare your mind for the day, or at night, to help calm the mind before bed. During a tough day at work, meditative breathing exercises help to calm and regroup your mind so you can be productive and focused.