Should you meditate before a workout?

In this Burst you do, sitting for twenty minutes with eyes closed and a mantra given by a teacher or chosen by you before any training starts. Ten minutes of mobility follows, then three or four big lifts with sets that need all of your attention, and a short cold finish.

How long does it take, and what do I need?

About 108 minutes. You need weights for the strength session and access to cold water for the last three minutes, which you can build up to gradually if you are not used to it.

Who inspired this Burst?

Hugh Jackman, the Australian actor known for playing Wolverine, who has practised Transcendental Meditation since around 1992. The sequence is Bearmore's own, built from what he has shared publicly, and is not a record of his actual routine.

When the Gym Is Where You Switch Off

Quality: Fair· 50%Effort: Manageable· 01h 48m

·Inspired by Hugh Jackman

Can’t turn the volume down on your thoughts?

Meditate first, lift heavy, finish with cold exposure. A morning Burst: mantra meditation as the anchor, a full strength session, and a cold plunge to finish it all up.

The runsheet

1
Twenty minutes of TM
Mantra
Meditate twice daily where life allows. A morning twenty-minute sit, eyes closed, with a mantra given by a teacher or chosen by you.
20 min activitySetup 1 min · Reset 1 min · 22 min all-in
Bearmore’s thoughts on doing mantra before stretching
This works well because breathing awareness can help you find space while stretching.
2
Mobility warm-up
Stretching
Hips, shoulders, ankles, ten minutes. The cheapest insurance against the heavy work to come.
10 min activitySetup 4 min · Reset 4 min · 18 min all-in
Bearmore’s thoughts on doing stretching before resistance training
This works well because flexibility and body awareness can help you move with better form and range of motion in strength training.
3
Lift heavy
Resistance training
What carries over is the discipline more than the volume. A decent strength session: three or four big lifts, sets that demand all of your attention.
30 min activitySetup 8 min · Reset 11 min · 49 min all-in
Bearmore’s thoughts on doing resistance training before cold plunge
This can work, but it needs care because an icy dip right after lifts may affect hypertrophy by halting muscle inflammation; wait if size is the goal.
4
Finish with cold
Cold plunge
Bookend the training with cold exposure for recovery. Three minutes in cold water at the end of the strength session. Build up to it if you’re not already conditioned.
3 min activitySetup 8 min · Reset 8 min · 19 min all-in
Time well spent.
1h 48m spent doing something good for yourself.

The breakdown

Burst evaluation

QualityFair· 50%

Sequencing0%

Logistics100%

DifficultyManageable· 0

Total activity108m / 149mManageable

Physical activity43m / 59mManageable

Mental focus23m / 29mGentle

Introspection0m / 29mGentle

Creativity0m / 59mGentle

+ 4 more conditionsHow we assess →

Wellbeing focus

The relative wellbeing focus of this Burst.

HighEmotional

HighPhysical

MedSelf

LowSocial

MedIntellectual

About this Burst

This Burst sequences the following: a mantra meditation, a serious weight training block, and a short cold plunge as the recovery cap. This version keeps the structure, but reduces the overall workload.

Athletes & active Burn some energy Famous faces Morning Under 2 hours A new morning routine Most loved

Common questions

When the Gym Is Where You Switch Off1h 48m · free in the app1h 48m · free in the app