Mind Body Fitness Demystified
Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, Reiki, Nia, Gyrokinesis
As gyms continue to offer an every-widening array of mind-body fitness options, it might help to have a basic understanding of what "Mind-body" is supposed to mean.
“Asanas have been evolved over the centuries so as to exercise every muscle, nerve and gland in the body. They secure a fine physique, which is strong and elastic without being muscle-bound …. But their real importance lies in the way they train and discipline the mind.” – From B.K.S. Iyengar's Introduction of Light on Yoga (Schocken Books, 1979)
The International Dance and Exercise Association (IDEA) defined mind-body fitness activities as “physical exercise executed with a profoundly inwardly directed focus.” This includes Yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates, Reiki, Nia and Gyrokinesis – to name a few.
Due to the growing popularity of mind-body fitness in the 1990s, IDEA created an entire sub-component dedicated to the mind-body-spirit connection, which they call "Inner IDEA". The committee identified five major characteristics of mind-body exercise, noting that any style of mind-body fitness regimen includes one or more of these components:
- Internal focus of thoughts
- Concentration on muscular movements and actions
- Synchronization of movement with breath
- Attention to alignment
- Belief in a form of life energy (such as prana or chi)
Some forms of mind-body exercise encompass all five qualities, Yoga and Tai Chi are the most familiar of those. Pilates focuses on the breath and movement portions, and does not emphasize the idea of a shared and moving life-energy. On the other hand, Reiki is considered one of the original mind-body healing techniques, and it focuses almost solely on the movement of energy, without much movement on the part of the participant at all.
Nia and Gyrokinesis are newer techniques and are hybrids of ancient practices of Yoga, Tai Chi and martial arts practices, movement and dance schools of thought and pure bodywork studies such as the Feldenkrais method, Alexander Technique or Rolfing.
Bodywork versus Mind-Body
There is some confusion as to whether bodywork techniques should be included in the mind-body category, due to the fact that there is an element of kinesthetic awareness required to study or practice bodywork techniques, and a strong focus on alignment. To that point, who is to say that conventional exercise such as swimming, running or weight lifting is not mindful?
The difference rests in the intention behind the activities. In mind-body practices, the mental focus of the practitioner is an essential element. One could perform a single Yoga pose and meditation, and it could be considered a complete practice.
All About Connection
Because the term mind-body itself springs out of the medical research field, where scientists were studying the connections between the brain and the physical well-being of their subjects, the mind-body definition of fitness is couched securely in the sustenance and creation of that connection.
It is succinctly explained by W. Michael Keane and Stephen Cope in "When the Therapist is a Yogi: Integrating Yoga and Psychotherapy": “For the yogi, no one aspect of human functioning is more important than the other. To work with the emotions you need mind and body. There is no separation. Change the emotional state then you affect the mind and body. Change the physical experience then you affect the mind and emotions.” (Transpersonal Psychotherapy,” SUNY Press, Albany NY 1996 ed. Seymour Boorstein, M.D.)
