The mind and the body are not two separate entities—although they are often treated that way. Physical health and mental health are intimately intertwined in what is known as the mind-body connection.
In fact, one could say the mind is gross body and the body is subtle mind. The two are inter-related.
Our chemistry and biology impact our mood and emotions, as well as thoughts and beliefs.
With all these factors combined, they play a major role in influencing ill health and good health.
For example: If you’ve ever felt your stomach tighten up when you were anxious, you’ve experienced the mind-body connection.
Scientific research on yoga and meditation has discovered the connection between mind, body, and spirit. However, Yoga has emphasised this connection in all its practices for over 5000 years.
Studies now show that the mindful movement and breathing done in yoga activates the relaxation response (the para-sympathetic nervous system). Consequently, yoga moves the nervous system out of the “fight, flight, or freeze” response associated with stress, and into the “rest and digest” response—increasing emotional well-being.
Furthermore, Yoga increases levels of GABA, a neurotransmitter in the brain that helps relax the mind, improve mood and reduce the effects of physical anxiety.
The practice of Yoga is indeed unique in many ways and one way is the effect of the breath on the mind and body. When the breath is calm, the mind is calm, and the body is relaxed. By lengthening and regulating the breath we not only steady the mind, but we calm the mind, nerves, and emotions.
For example: when we sigh or yawn, it is the body’s natural way to relax and release. When we consciously slow and lengthen the breath, we increase the body and mind’s natural relaxation responses.
Just try, breath consciously for the count of 3 and breath out slowly for the count of 5. There is an automatic relaxation effect.
Furthermore, the way we think and what we believe can affect our health, too.
Negative thinking patterns—assuming the worst, jumping to conclusions, and self-criticism can also have serious health consequences.
This negative inner voice coupled with negative thought patterns are difficult to break. Long term exposure to these patterns cultivates negative neural pathways.
That’s where Yoga and meditation can help.
In Yoga we learn to witness the thoughts and free ourselves from the constant identification with the mind.
By witnessing the mind, we disentangle ourselves from excessive involvement with the mind. When we sit as a witness, we can heal the mind from negative thought patterns. We become impartial to the thinking processes and thus lessen the impact of negative thoughts.
The toxic thoughts become weaker when we don’t identify with them.
We learn not to pay heed to the dramatic stories the mind creates and as a result, the effect of negative thinking becomes less on the body, mind, and emotions.
In a positive way, we can also use imagery and visualisation techniques to create a mind and body connection in a harmonious way. For example: when negative thoughts or images arise due to a challenging situation, replace those thoughts with positive visualisations.
Basically, the body doesn’t know the difference between imagery and reality. It reacts the same way.
The body influences the mind too. All systems of the body and mind share a chemical language and are intrinsically interwoven.
When we engage in Yogic practices, we create a change in the body’s chemistry.
We open areas where we hold tension, and we encourage the prana/life energy to flow. This helps us feel good and when we feel good the mind relaxes and we start to make positive choices in our lives.
In the end there is no such thing as separation. Yoga at its core is about unity and oneness. We are one being in constant relationship with itself and with the universe at large.
