Cardio workouts are refreshingly intense. Boosts your heart rate and burns your calories for a healthier you. Fitness isn't merely an exercise but a lifestyle choice for better health. Aerobics like swimming, running or boxing make your cardio sessions more enjoyable. You can always choose that which you enjoy the most while shredding a few pounds overtime. Are you already on a workout routine like cardio or yoga? Then, add on the goodness of meditation to it for greater fitness benefits. Practising meditation calms your mind and relaxes your body. Improves mindfulness and reduces stress for a more balanced, healthy physique.

Here are a few ways to meditate while on a cardio session.

• Relieves stress

Unwind your mind from everyday work-life cycle while on a cardio workout. Try to keep off your mind from endless to-do lists at work or home. Spend your workout time to achieve good health and peaceful state of mind. You can concentrate on your breathing pattern to help you calm down your racing mind full of thoughts and anxiety. With regular practice, you can gradually perfect the art of meditation along with exercises over a period of time.

• Helps visualize progress and final outcome

Set yourself a fitness goal and create a fitness mantra to help you visualize progressing towards the goal. The mantra can either remain constant throughout all your workout sessions or keep changing with each session to suit your purpose and goal. Stay motivated and focused during a challenging cardio routine for better results. Remind yourself why you're working out and why you should keep moving forward. For example, if your goal is to strengthen your abs then visualize your abs getting stronger during the workout.

• Helps relax muscles

Every cardio workout revolves around a single focal point. Most often, building a supple and strong body is of prime focus. Well-regulated breathing pattern along with a serene state of mind greatly helps in relaxing your muscles. This further boosts flexibility and strength building while doing cardio sessions.

• Regulates breathing  

Take slow and deep breaths. It's an effective meditation technique that lets your lungs expand and contract to its maximum capacity. When you inhale, widen your chest area and when you exhale, contract your stomach in order to exercise a complete breathing cycle. Start with practising the breathing exercise well before you begin to sweat and pant for breathe. It will regulate your heart rate during a cardio workout.

Even before you start with practising cardio and meditation in right balance, enrol yourself to a fitness program designed by a certified fitness trainer. Get to know if your fitness program is in line with your fitness goals and vision. Each type of fitness offers a unique set of health benefits. Always opt for fitness courses that employs different forms of workouts like aerobics, yoga and a moderate level of meditation, as well.