The Science Behind Our Mind-Body Connection 

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The Mind-Body Connection: How Our Thoughts, Emotions, and Behaviors Affect Our Physical Health

The mind-body connection is the crux of human existence. It is an important connection for how we perform different functions. Our thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, and feelings can negatively and positively affect our biological functioning. In other words, our minds greatly contribute to how our body feels. Not only this, our diet, physical activities, and postures can also impact our mental state. This is what we call the complex interrelationship between our minds and bodies.

Did you ever wonder why your heartbeat changes pace when you are excited or fearful? Or your stomach tightens up when you are anxious? Or why do tears begin to fall from your eyes when you are sad? Well, this all is the mind-body connection- both our chemistry and biology impact our emotions, thoughts, moods, and beliefs.

While the connection of the cerebral cortex to the adrenal medulla maintains the mind-body connection in stressful and depressive conditions, many hormones like cortisol, melatonin, serotonin, and others play an important role.

How does the Brain affect all Physiology?           

The human brain is a powerful organ made of nervous tissues. Along with taking over the control for thinking and memory, it also commands senses, task-evoked responses, emotions, movements, and language (all related to human physiology).

The human brain is divided into three parts;

  1. The cerebrum is further divided into the left and right hemispheres. Both hemispheres have an outer layer of grey matter- the cerebral cortex.
  2. The cerebellum 
  3. The brainstem

The interconnection of these three brain parts is responsible for the physiological changes, responses, and activities in the human body. The cerebrum is responsible for conscious and unconscious behaviours and other motor activities. The cerebellum takes control over the body’s motor coordination (like hands, feet, limbs movements), balance, and posture (all voluntary movements). At the same time, the brainstem does its work to control our heart rate, coughing, sneezing, vomiting, digestion, swallowing, wake-sleep cycles, respiration, breathing, temperature.

The brain is in control of our stomach, feeling hungry, our mouth drying up when thirsty, and our eyes closing when sleepy. The brain signals the body to perform certain actions. It also controls our language, mood, and other physiological activities.

Hence, the physical activities regulated by our brain are some clear indications of how our brain affects all physiology.

How Visualization Affects Physiology/Learning? 

As the brain is all about physically functioning, visualisation also clearly affects physiology. But how? Has it something to do with the mind also? Well, let’s uncover it here.

Visualisation and physiology are closely related, involving the brain’s motor cortex. The motor cortex directs the signals to the body to perform certain actions. It gets activated when we think about our body doing something- walking or raising an arm, leg, etc.

Imagination is a great way to rehearse and remember the movements we intend to perform mentally. It is the process that changes the organisation of the brain and creates more connections among various regions. It is the process through which our brain learns certain things. Visualisation stimulates the brain regions that are found to be participating in the rehearsal of movement like putamen and primes the body and brain for the action to help us move more quickly.

When we continue to be involved in visualisation/imagination about making certain movements or feeling a certain way, our brain learns our routine movements over time. It thus allows these actions to become fine-tuned and more automatic.

This is how visualisation involves the brain and the body and makes them learn certain patterns, behaviours, and activities- known as learning.

Mind vs. Brain; The Debate between nonphysical and physical 

Are our mind and brain two different entities? Do they function differently? Is there any real difference between the two? These questions might come into your mind at some point, and if you haven’t got the answer yet, here it is.

Many people confuse both as the same and often use words as synonyms. However, this is not right. Both brain and the mind are completely different entities.

The brain is the physical part of our body located in our head. It is made of three parts, and each is further divided into subparts. The brain is a physical entity that directs our body to perform actions and provides meaning to our existence (function of mind). The centre of the nervous system coordinates our thoughts, movements, and feelings.

On the other hand, the mind is non-physical and refers to our understanding of things. It also includes our conscience and the way we process things. It relates to our thought process, including how we take things, how we understand them, and how we take out meanings from them.

In short, the brain is a physical thing with nerves, and you can touch it, while the mind is non-physical/abstract things, and you cannot touch it.

Enteric nervous system overview and connection 

Have you ever wondered how your food gets digested after some time when you overeat your favourite food, and you get hungry for another round of meals? Well, this is because your brain controls your stomach. But this time, it’s not the usual brain but the enteric nervous system (ENS).

The enteric nervous system is also known as the “second brain” as it operates independently of the central nervous system (CNS). It is a partly autonomous part of the nervous system with many neural circuits responsible for controlling the local blood flow, motor functions, endocrine, and immune system modulation, and mucosal secretion and transport.

It also interconnects greatly with physiology. It determines the gastrointestinal tract movements, local blood flow change, gastric acid secretion regulation, and gut hormones release (in the stomach, small intestine, and pancreas to control digestive organ functions).

Getting Started

Both brain and body (also the second brain) go hand in hand. Our body doesn’t work properly/at all without better coordination of mind and body. The interconnection between our biology and physiology is what makes us the way we are. We are the brain-body combination that fails to perform functions if the connection breaks.

The Mind-Body Fitness Coach is a great add-on credential for yoga teachers, Pilates instructors, and holistic-minded fitness trainers.

You’ll gain a broad knowledge of mind-body exercises and fitness concepts, strategies and methods. You will discover a wide variety of scientifically proven mind-body practices to enhance health, reduce stress and give your clients great joy.

Becoming a Certified Wellness Coach is the perfect addition for the fitness professional who wants to offer more all-inclusive wellness services to clients.

The time is now for you to enjoy this exciting and rewarding career, which offers you personal fulfillment while improving the lives of others.

Spencer Institute certification programs are open to anyone with a desire to learn and help others. There are no prerequisites. That’s it for now. Take action!

NESTA | Spencer Institute

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