Practicing the Mind-Body Connection

Many people do not realize how powerful the connection is between mental and physical wellness. The mind and body are often viewed as separate, but they are actually part of one holistic system. Your psychological health directly affects your physical health because they are part of the same entity – you.

My September 12th blog, “How Mind-Body Practices Improve Health,” explained how the mind-body connection works and that these practices can improve overall health as well as promote healing after surgery. The more that people learn to harness their thoughts to positively influence their physiology, the healthier they will be. Here are several ways to put the mind-body connection to use and activate your relaxation response, which is necessary for your body to heal, repair, and renew, especially after a surgical procedure.

Deep Breathing

If you’re not able to find time in your busy schedule to set aside for mind-body practices, deep breathing has great de-stressing abilities and can be done anywhere at any time. Slowly inhale deep into your belly as you count to five, then pause for a second before slowly exhaling for five seconds. Try to clear your mind and just focus on your breathing or think positive thoughts as you breathe. Repeat this five times for a total of five deep breaths. This deep breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which reduces cortisol levels and aids in digestion, and thinking positively helps reduce stress.

Meditation

Meditation is a practice used to self-regulate the mind and achieve another state of consciousness. There are many different meditation techniques, but most passive forms involve sitting or laying in a comfortable position with the eyes closed. Methods that involve becoming fully aware of the mind and the senses often involve a focus on breathing and body awareness. Other approaches may focus on a happy memory or positive thoughts and sensations to create positive physical responses. Some techniques aim to clear the mind to achieve relaxation and peace. All of these techniques reduce stress and help you become more aware of the power of the mind to overcome things.

Yoga

Today, there are many different ways to practice yoga derived from its original form in ancient India, but one of its major aims is still to find inner peace. Yoga is used as a form of exercise in contemporary America, and those who practice it flow through a variety of physical postures, pausing for anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes in each posture. One of the many benefits of yoga includes improved standing balance. As a person moves from position to position they also build strength while focusing on their mind-body connection and controlled breathing. If you are interested in yoga, check out these yoga poses for beginners and start actively relaxing to reduce stress now.

Tai Chi

This ancient Chinese tradition also involves a series of slow movements through positions with controlled breathing. However, with tai chi there are no pauses between postures, and the movements are more relaxed rather than strength building. Tai chi emphasizes slow and coordinated body movements, which improve a person’s moving balance. Those practicing tai chi can effectively use meditation to enhance the practice and reduce stress. For a simple way to learn tai chi basics, click here.

From simple breathing exercises to more strenuous activities, there are a range of practices that employ the many benefits of a positive mind-body connection. These relaxation exercises train your mind to focus on the positive rather than becoming stressed so that you can respond to almost any situation in a healthy manner and improve your mental as well as physical health.

At my Paradise Valley practice, I routinely perform many types of plastic surgery procedures and treatments. I am certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and have over two decades of experience in performing cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. If you are interested in any procedure, feel free to schedule a consultation by calling (480) 890-0600 or filling out our online contact form today. I am dedicated to helping all of my patients achieve the look they want through safe and effective procedures.