Who is it that carries this corpse around?
I find that strength training and yoga become a lot more therapeutic when the mind is in a state of flow as opposed to being seized up. As soon as I get in my car on the way to the gym I put myself in a state of anxiety by thinking explicitly in the future tense: I am going to crush X, then Y, then Z. Immediately upon arrival I begin an automatic process of unloading the gym bag, laying out my gear in the locker the same way, etc.
Before my first warmup with the bar I try to clear my mind during my thirty seconds of breathing, while focusing only on the present sensations - expansion of the diaphragm, the feeling of the air rushing in and out of my lungs. I don't think about the day prior to this point, nor do I think about how the weight is going to feel when I unrack it. I attempt to put my mind in a state of emptiness (or absolute receptiveness) so that I am only focused on the feedback present in my central nervous system at that time.
To this end I also kind of consciously walk/shuffle/dance around in between sets and exercises, because if I sit still and "wait" my mind wants to wander to places that are irrelevant and counter productive. So in a certain sense the gym and yoga mat are spaces where I "let go" every day. Sweet release!
Best wishes Sean, I know you have been struggling with your digestive issues for a while now and I hope it reaches a resolution that will allow you to get back under the bar sooner rather than later.
