MENTAL FITNESS & PHYSICAL WELLNESS

HW420-01-JenniferCarmicha5Jennifer Carmichael

Unit 5 Project

Introduction

Explore the importance of mental fitness

Studies that demonstrate the healing qualities of mental and spiritual focus

Exercises

Activities and Practices

Summary

Mental Fitness is a means of prolonging a life of physical, physiological and mental well being.

Some of the benefits include:

Sustained health

Strong immune system

functionality

Increased relaxation &

happiness

Decreased depression,

anxiety and stress

Proof in the Pudding

Greer & Pettingale & colleagues studied breast cancer patients and found that those who responded with a “fighting spirit” (in the mindset that they could defeat the disease) showed a recurrence-free survival rate 5, 10, and 15 year follow ups than those who felt “helpless” (Schlitz, Amorok, Micozzi 2005, p. 83)

Braud and colleagues conducted experiments in which “senders” used imagery and intent to exert direct mental influence upon the objective psychological activity of the “receiver” to which they concluded that ones physiology could be affected (Schlitz, Amorok, Micozzi 2005, p. 270).

Byrd, a cardiologist conducted an experiment with intercessory prayer on heart patients to discover that people that are prayed for have an increase in their heart health and a decrease in the need for drugs. They also demonstrated lower incidence of pulmonary edema and required cardiopulmonary resuscitation less often (Schlitz, Amorok, Micozzi 2005, p. 317)

Yogic PrincipleSVABAHVA: THE BELIEF THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL HUMAN BEING IS THE RESULT OF A UNIQUE SET OF QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS THAT ARE NOT REPLICABLE IN THEIR EXACT CONFIGURATION

SVADHARMA: THE BELIEF THAT THERE IS A UNIQUE PATH OF DEVELOPMENT, GROWTH AND UNFOLDMENT FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL THAT MUST BE UNDERSTOOD IN TERMS OF THAT PERSON’S UNIQUE SVABHAVA.

Photo courtesy of http://www.mmedia.is/odsmal/fyrirlestur05/21OVVNjordurOHL21/21OVVNjordOHL.html

Photo courtesy of http://explow.com/Svabhava

Yoga The translation of yoga is literally “to yoke” the mind, body, and

spirit The asanas, or poses, are the physical part of yoga It is important to breath continuously while going in and out of

the asanas as holding the breath causes stress and sometimes panic which is counterproductive to the exercise

After much practice yoga becomes like any other exercise routine, often times repetitive and mindless allowing the connection between the mind, body and spirit to become one

Photo courtesy of http://ultimatebridalmag.com/600/from-bridezilla-to-yogic-bride-5-yoga-poses-for-a-clearer-mind-and-leaner-body-2/

Subtle Mind There is a direct relationship between the breath and the mind. Through practice

your breathing will become easy and rhythmic by which your mind will follow.

Peaceful breathing equals peaceful mind. The use of the breath will allow the mind

to be tamed and stabilized and this leads us into the witnessing mind, replacing

grasping and clinging with calm- abiding. The final step of the subtle mind

practice is unity consciousness, where inner self becomes awake and a witness to

all things of our being (Dacher 2006, pp. 74-75). The link on the following slide is

an audio instruction on the subtle mind practice (Retrieved October 22, 2012 from

Kaplan University doc sharing).

Subtle Mind Practice.mp3

Conclusion Mental fitness is an important part of

integral health. Mental fitness practices have been

scientifically proven to improve physical and physiological health.

The practice of yoga and the subtle mind are just 2 exercises that can increase our well being.

There are long term physical effects and benefits of being mentally “fit”.

Resources

Dacher, Elliot S. (2006). Integral Health: The Path to Human Flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, Inc.

Personal Experience and Exercise (2009-present).

Retrieved October 22, 2012 from, Kaplan University doc sharing.

Schlitz, M., Amorok, Tina, and Micozzi, Mark (2005). Consciousness & Healing: Integral Approaches to Mind-Body Medicine. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.

PhotographsRetrieved October 22, 2012 from, http://explow.com/Svabhava

Retrieved October 22, 2012 from, http://www.mmedia.is/odsmal/fyrirlestur05/21OVVNjordurOHL21/21OVVNjordOHL.html