Your mind can positively or negatively affect the health of your body . On the other hand, situations such as what you do physically, what y...
Your mind can positively or negatively affect the health of your body. On the other hand, situations such as what you do physically, what you eat, how tired you are, affect your mental state positively or negatively. optimum health; It requires your mind, physical body, and spirit to be in balance. This results in a very complex relationship between your mind and body. Detail are as follows:
The brain and peripheral nervous system, the endocrine system and immune system, all the organs of our body, and all the emotional responses we have in turn share a common chemical language. Awareness of the mind-body connection is actually nothing new. Almost every medical system in the world, until about 300 years ago, treated the mind and body holistically for thousands of years. However, in the 17th century, the Western world began to see mind and body as two separate entities. In this view, the body was seen as a machine that can change and is defined by independent parts, with no connection to the mind. This western point of view; They have made the society accept that they have definite benefits with the surgical operations, trauma care, medicines and modern medical practices they constantly develop. However, they significantly reduced scientific research into people's emotional and spiritual life. This made us forget our innate ability to heal on our own.
When we came to the 20th century, that is, today, this view began to change gradually. Researchers have begun to delve deeper into the mind-body connection and scientifically demonstrate the complex connections between body and mind. Through extensive research, they have proven the spiritual as well as mental benefits of yoga, meditation, mindfulness training, and other mind-body practices.
What exactly does "mind" mean?
It is important to understand that “mind” is not synonymous with brain. Mind; It consists of mental states such as thoughts, feelings, beliefs, attitudes, traumas, and images. The brain is the hardware that enables us to experience such mental states and activates the reaction mechanism.
Mental states can be completely conscious or even unconscious. We may react emotionally to situations without being aware of why we are reacting. Every mental state has a physiology associated with it, which can feel as a positive or negative effect on the physical body. For example, states of mental anxiety or fear cause us to produce stress hormones. Various mind-body therapies focus on becoming more conscious. By also using this increased awareness, we can steer mental states in a better, less destructive direction.
How Do Yoga and Meditation Positively Affect the Mind-Body Connection?
Research on yoga and meditation has also led to research on the connections between mind, body, and spirit. Research has proven that focused movement and breathing in yoga activates the relaxation response (rest and digest response) through the “Vagus Nerve”. In summary, in case of fear or anxiety, your nervous system moves you from the fight-or-flight response to the rest-and-digest response, increasing emotional well-being. Yoga increases the levels of GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid) in the brain, which are major neurotransmitters that help relax the mind.
The Effect of Food on Our Mood: How Does Nutrition Affect the Mind-Body Connection?
Everything that enters our body affects our mind and mental health. What we eat has the power to prevent or reverse mental health problems. In addition, certain nutrients have been associated with measurable positive results in mental and emotional well-being. Additionally; The mind-body connection is also manifested in the communication between the brain and the gut. About 95% of serotonin, one of the main hormones that controls or balances your emotions, is produced in the gastrointestinal tract (all organs from the mouth to the anus). That's why in medicine, the enteric nervous system (the nervous system that extends from the mouth to the gut) is called the second brain. This system consists of approximately one hundred million neurons and neuron sheaths embedded in the intestinal walls. In short, information goes from the gut to the brain or from the brain to the gut. As a result, the researchers say: People with bad bacteria in the gut are more likely to be anxious and depressed than those with good bacteria. For example, think of the pain in your stomach when you get very angry 😊
Body Feels Emotion
When you experience emotional states such as sadness, joy, or anger, physiological sensations occur in different parts of your body. Emotions such as anger, fear, guilt, anxiety, sadness, jealousy or stress can manifest in the body; can contribute to imbalance and disease. For example, having headaches after a very stressful or tense day…
What You Believe Can Cause Illness
A common way to experience the interaction of belief and physical sensations is through chronic pain. In essence, pain is a common combination of physical sensations you experience, emotions you tend to feel, and pain. Emotional anguish, physical pain, and other sensations exert the same strain on the nervous system. For example, feelings of anger or insecurity can disrupt the regular beating of the heart and the flow of breathing. This allows the sympathetic nervous system to activate, creating a feeling of restlessness and pain, such as when faced with a threat. Another example; Research shows that asocial people are more likely to have cardiovascular and other health problems than people who have consistent and supportive relationships. This is why you need to be present and aware to avoid the buildup of toxic emotions.
Mind-Body Connection Practices to Build Holistic Health
Let's talk about how to establish the connection between mind and body… For some or all of these applications, you may need help from a professional trainer or expert. However, you can still practice these simple mind-body connection exercises in your home or office whenever you can.
1. Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness meditation is a method that you can always do and does not take much of your time. In this method, you just have to close your eyes, pay attention to your breathing and focus on the present moment. If you get distracted, go back to the present. Mindfulness meditation helps you focus and remove distracting thoughts and emotions, while also helping you calm down a bit. This method will make your mind and body feel better over time.
2. Kundalini Yoga and Chakra Yoga
Kundalini yoga and chakra yoga practices will both provide the integrity of the mind, body and spirit, while opening the energy channels will heal you. In addition, doing this regularly will keep your chakras and energy in balance, which will ensure that your mind, body and mental health are always in balance.
3. Gentle Movement
The gentle asanas in yoga and Tai Chi are wonderful mind-body connection practices. We recommend adding them to your morning or evening workout routines on a regular basis.
4. Progressive Relaxation
The method we call gradual relaxation; It is a technique in which you focus on tightening and then relaxing various muscle groups. This technique, combined with meditative practices and breathing exercises, will bring deep mental and physical relaxation. Doing it regularly will also keep it in balance.
The Mind's Role on the Body
Mental and emotional problems are associated with the development of physical diseases. That's why many doctors tell patients to stay away from stress in cancer, heart diseases, and serious illnesses that are likely to collapse the immune system. An estimated 95% of all diseases can be caused or exacerbated by stress. A research done; has proven that individuals with high levels of stress are much more likely to catch a cold. However, it is accepted by modern medicine that diseases such as hypertension and ulcers are caused by stress. It is another fact accepted by modern medicine that depression triggers a number of ailments such as heart diseases, diabetes and stroke. So everything that happens in your mind also affects your body.
The Role of the Body on the Mind
Physical activities are the greatest help in managing various mental imbalances. For example, those who exercise regularly are less likely to become depressed than those who do not. This is because; People who exercise regularly have high levels of oxygen and endorphins in their bodies. This allows them to be more fit and alert and have more energy. However, many studies on people who exercise regularly have proven that they have a good memory and more positive emotions.
Many studies have also proven that yoga, meditation, and other relaxation exercises can relieve stress, depression, and even sleep problems. Especially in recent years, giving meditation practices to Alzheimer's patients is an example of this. At the same time, as we mentioned above, the food that enters your body also affects your mental states. Eating healthy foods in moderation improves emotional well-being; It can also reduce many physical problems associated with mental disorders such as obesity. Therefore, to dominate your mind, eat consciously, consume right, do not neglect exercises and sleep regularly.
Mind, body and spirit are one. It can never be broken. What happens in one, happens in the other. Discovering your unity of mind, body and spirit means discovering your self. Your Self is love and healing.
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