The health benefits of mind/body exercise
Yoga incorporates mind/body components
Studies have connected mind/body activities to improved health, reduced risk of cancer, and other medical improvements. Additionally, mind/body medicine has become a recognized field at medical centers across the country including the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind/Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. Herbert Benson, MD, the Benson-Henry Institute’s Director Emeritus, wrote about the value of mind/body connection.
“Today mind/body medicine and self-care has been shown to be effective and essential in improving our health and, thus, is growing in acceptance to become a third modality in health care, taking its place next to surgery and pharmaceuticals.”
The phrase “mind/body connection” tends to be overused in health and fitness settings. While just about any physical activity can incorporate a mind/body connection, there is some confusion about exactly what that connection is and why it should matter to the casual or serious exerciser. Simply put, mind/body exercise combines movement with a meditational, psychological or mental focus to expand the value of the physical experience. Mind/body exercise may include:
- Breathing techniques
- Visualization strategies
- Guided Imagery
- Relaxation techniques
Mind/body exercise also tends to emphasize the value of movement as an end in itself rather than as a weight loss or body building endeavor. Ironically, that element may have particular value for exercisers trying to lose weight. Because exercise doesn’t always produce immediate results, participating in workouts with meditational and stress reducing benefits may help exercisers to stay on track with a fitness plan when the long term weight loss goal seems out of reach.
Activities such as tai chi, yoga, and pilates typically incorporate a mind/body component, but it can also be built into any physical activity. The Benson-Henry Institute offers guidelines for physical activity on their website. For athletes, books such as “In Pursuit of Excellence, How to Win In Sport And Life Though Mental Training” and “Psyching for Sport” , by author Terry Orlick, PhD are great guides for incorporating visualization, breathing techniques, and imagery into workouts in order to improve performance.
