Mindfulness for Physical Activity Research Project

In recent years, mindfulness-based approaches have increasingly been used in mental and physical health interventions. There appears to be some consensus about the benefits of standard mindfulness courses, such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on stress, anxiety and depression, and other health conditions. In terms of physical activity, however, evidence for the use of mindfulness training to promote and improve physical activity is scarce and shows conflicting results. Evidence suggests that mindfulness training may enhance psychological factors related to exercise, such as intrinsic motivation to engage in physical activity, tolerance of physical activity-related discomfort, and physical activity self-regulation, which could potentially enhance physical activity maintenance in the long run.