ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the role of mindfulness in affecting explicit processes, implicit processes, and the relationship between the two. Strategies for incorporating mindfulness into exercise highlight traditional mind-body exercise, such as yoga, but also address how mindfulness can be introduced to possibly enhance affective experiences during other forms of exercise such as walking. Mindfulness is a popular construct that has been targeted both as an intervention or a mechanism for exercise-related outcomes and as an outcome itself of exercise. Mindfulness consistently predicts self-reported exercise or physical activity; however, there are inconsistent or non-significant relationships with objectively measured physical activity behaviour. A series of studies over the past few years are in support of the theoretical role that state mindfulness of the body may play in supporting the autonomous regulation of physical activity behaviour. Empirical evidence suggests that trait mindfulness is associated with autonomous physical activity motivation and behaviour.
