It is now day 42 of the MCO in Malaysia. The gym that I train at, Fitologist Hub, started doing online workouts. We also had some online shadow boxing sessions, which were better than not boxing at all, although I really miss my boxing PT sessions.

Doing online workouts via Zoom has been interesting to say the least.

Especially with the boxing sessions, I found that I had to stay in my zone and filter out any unnecessary instruction that doesn’t apply to me.

When boxing a combination, it is important to remember what punches you are meant to be throwing, in sequence. However, the coaches are often also yelling out the combination / sequence to someone else if they are struggling to keep up. Normally in PT sessions, the coach is only talking or guiding you on your own. In a group class though, you may be ahead or behind the actual sequence and if you pay too much attention, that completely throws you off.

It is really important to stay in your mental zone and to stay focused on what you are doing, whilst keeping an ear out for any instruction that may apply to you. If it is not for you, then filter it out and keep doing what you are doing.

This has a lot of similarity in a group riding lesson or when we are at a competition. We have to be able to take in the instruction or detail that is pertinent to us at that point of time. If it is not important, or not meant for us, then let it drift past without paying too much attention to it.

Competitive athletes call it being in the zone, where everything is tuned out, and their focus is pinpointed to their only task at hand. Everything else ceases to exist. We are present and in the moment.

With everything that we do, in this day and age where there can be so many distractions, it is imperative that we learn to be present in that moment, and to be in the zone when needed.