MFP Education Center

I’ve always viewed CrossFit and fitness in general as a Mindfulness practice. In Wherever You Go, There You Are Jon Kabat-Zinn describes Mindfulness as the “awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally”. 

The process of moving and getting into your physical body is most effective when you approach it with this mindful sense of both openness and curiosity. Mindfulness and fitness are both important daily practices for me that help me get out of my head and consciously remain fully present in each moment. So, I decided to blend the two into one special practice – the Mindful Mobility Class. 

What is the Mindful Mobility Class?

Starting Thursday June 27th, Mindful Mobility will be a new class available at CrossFit MFP. Longevity day just got better now with 7:30AM and 5PM Mindful Mobility classes every week. 

This is what you can expect:

Come with an open mind! We are here to both move our bodies and practice Mindfulness meditation. The meditation, however, will be the movement itself. When the class begins, we will start with a brief lesson on mindfulness as both a structured practice and a way of being. There will be some time to connect but soon we will get into the magic.. the movement!

Less Music, More Attention

As much as I love working out with music, it can be distracting. The goal for the Mindful Mobility class is to minimize distractions and direct all of our attention to the movement itself. We won’t be in complete silence – there will be some instrumental background music to help us get in the right headspace. For these 60 minutes there is only one goal – to pay attention, on purpose, without judgment. 

The Movement

Each week the programming will vary – but our focus remains consistent. We will flow through a long and steady flow (roughly 30 minutes) of movement that demands our attention. This includes body weight movements with slow and controlled eccentric lowering, active isometric holds, and monostructual practices like running/walking. If you are an MFP member or participate in some sort of fitness program, most of these movements will be familiar to you. But, when was the last time you sat deep into a squat and was fully present in it? When have you actually noticed the feelings in your body that arise when moving – whether pleasant or unpleasant – without any judgment? The ultimate stimulus of this workout is for you to pay full attention to the sensations in your body as you steadily move and flow. 

If you are not an MFP member and are new to fitness, this mindful approach will be an excellent way for you to learn how to get into your body and grasp the fundamentals of functional movement.

The Mindset

The ultimate goal of this practice is to get out of our busy mind and get into your physical body. However, that does not mean your mind will be silent! Our brains are constantly at work attempting to problem solve, analyze, look forward, look back, and frankly be anywhere except the present moment. 

When you come to a Mindful Mobility class, the goal is not to “quiet your mind” or “control your thoughts”. These buzz terms are highly overused and not very relevant to Mindfulness at all. Instead, do your best to take the path of non-resistance – simply allowing your mind to flutter without judgment or attention. Instead, direct your attention and awareness to what is happening in your body while your mind eventually fades into a murmuring background noise. The goal is to be fully present with each movement and progression. As I guide the class, I’ll be offering subtle cues and reminders to stay fully present and engaged in your body as we move forward. The lack of music will help you direct your attention inward as you pull energy down into your body. 

Mindful Mobility Class Timing

The entire class will be an hour – just like everything we do at CrossFit MFP. The first few minutes will be spent connecting and introducing Mindfulness themes alongside intention setting. After that, I’ll coach you through the class flow, progressions, and then we will do a warmup together. The warmup is also an opportunity to help get you in the right mental and energetic space for a Mindfulness Meditation. This will all be about 15 minutes.

The next 30 minutes will be spent with Mindful Movement – our meditation. The class will end with 10 minutes to reconnect, get ourselves grounded with some guided breathwork, and then group connection/sharing. 

How to sign up for the Mindful Mobility Class

If you are a CrossFit MFP member, you can reserve for Mindful Mobility just like any other class in Wodify. If you are not a member and are interested in trying a class, send an email to support@crossfitmfp.com and we will help get you registered. Mindful Movement classes are included in all CrossFit MFP memberships. If you are not a member, your first class is free and then you could join by taking advantage of any of our class packs. If you have questions, send them to the same support email. 

Learn to Move Mindfully, Start to Live Mindfully

This is a class that serves all people of all fitness levels and backgrounds. Incorporating this as your weekly Mindfulness Meditation will help you improve your physical health, overall strength, balance, stability, and most importantly, your ability to connect with your body. The workouts will be unique and fun. Just like CrossFit, think of the Mindful Mobility class as an outlet to help you live your life better outside of the gym. Although seated meditations are a wonderful tool, we cannot rely fully on stillness to cultivate Mindfulness. Instead, imagine every situation you’re in – from washing the dishes to walking the dog – as an opportunity for Mindfulness. This class will help you integrate these powerful practices into all moments in your life. 

I’m looking forward to guiding you through this meaningful practice and continuing this wonderful process of collective growth together! Here’s to mindful movement and of course, mindful living.