Here's a punch for your training... :confused:

http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/2600/2641.asp?index=9863

a quote from the site:
Guang Yue, Ph.D., principal investigator of the study at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, and his colleagues have used sophisticated brain imaging technologies to study the phenomenon and have found preliminary evidence that muscles in the body can be toned and strengthened through mental exertion.

This concept admittedly runs counter to conventional "resistance training"--the foundation of most strength and conditioning programs, and what most people engage in when they go to the gym.

Yeah, let's just all think and visualize real hard about growing muscles... :tucool:

I've read similar articles and theories and studies. I don't understand why they always pick muscles in the hand or the foot or some other muscle that we don't care as much about. They should have picked the biceps or chest! :)

Interesting article, thanks!

It would be nice if I could bulk up and cut fat by sitting in a nice comfy Lazy-Boy and meditate for an hour.

Muscle growth is triggered by the brain at some point, so this isn't impossible. Doubt we'll see anything of it in our lifetimes though :( Humanity would definately be taking one big step forward if we eliminated obesity and muscle training, but the implications of this would be staggering. Gyms would obviously be out of business, but what would sports (d)evolve into? It'd just be a game of preparation kind of like racing (no offense to racing fans. I find the technology interesting). There's skill on the track, but most of winning will be attributed to what technology and budget you have (actually, I personally like Superbike racing :) )

I think if we can shape our body by our minds will by then the world will have changed so much that gyms would have been out of business long before that. As for sports just think what will happen in 10-20 years time when people can get genes spliced into their own or even worse people grown from embryo to be the best bball player in the world. I think sports will need to evolve and change with the times.

I do this daily.
I visualize my muscles growing while I'm trying to fall asleep. After a tough chest workout, I envision my muscles healing themselves and I've found that since I started doing that my soreness has decreased (If its placebo or whatever, all in my head, as some of you might be thinking...GOOD!).

Mental and Physical properties are combined in to one in all forms. There are autonomic functions you have very little mental control over, and others you have a great deal of control over (such as breathing). Controling, knowing, and understanding the inner workings of your body is fully possible and the more control you have the better you'll be able to act and react accordingly.

It's not quite just thinking about building muscles that's going on here, it's a willing contraction of the muscle. Think kegels.

This reminds me of an interview I saw with Fran Drescher. Someone asked her about what kind of routine she used on her abs, and she said she just contracts the muscles while waiting in line, while talking on the phone, etc. Some people might call it crazy, some people might call it stomach vaccuums.

It also makes me think of those vibrating bands that they sell on infomercials that contract your muscles for you.

(If its placebo or whatever, all in my head, as some of you might be thinking...GOOD!)
If one could take advantage of the placebo effect, why shouldn't you? It's quite obivous to me that our bodies are capable of far more than we can imagine. Given the right circumstances we can push harder, endure longer and resist more pain than anybody else. I believe that we can, to some extent, train our minds to be able to get some of these benefits "for free". Feeling less of the effect of muscle soreness is surely one such thing. It doesn't neccesarily mean that you recover faster or anything (still, you might), but the recovery will be more pleasant.

This isn't news to me. It's a belief in what I do.

I spend 15~20 minutes every night meditating. I have a specific place I do this, I sit in a specific position every time, and I concentrate on muscles I want to see grow.

In all honesty, I think it was more the mind-to-muscle connection I've built over this year that has allowed me to make gains. Training and diet are of course a must, but having your mind truly connected to your game is paramount if you ask me. Glad to see a study of some merit pop up in here, rather than one of those "Breaking News: Breathing Causes Cancer" type studies we always see...

-R

Directing your awareness at a muscle helps it to relax which in turn lets it take in more blood / nutrients. Hence repairs quicker and less soreness.
Widers