Body over Mind
Does mind over body really work?
Our infatuation with mind-over-body healing is a rather recent development. Since man became aware of the healing response in injured tissues, he has had interest in the energy phenomena. Since antiquity, people have explored the various dimensions of the healing phenomenon, and have considered the question of how the natural healing response in injured tissues may be facilitated. To date, I have not uncovered any ancient records that show that the ancients ever succeeded in using their minds to order healing in the tissues. Nor have I ever seen convincing evidence from any of the faith healers, mystics, shamans and the modern gurus of the mind-over-body industry that they have figured out a way to use their thinking minds to force healing on to injured tissues, at least in the physical ways that can be seen with a microscope or assessed by other chemical and physical means.
The road to weight gain is paved with good intentions: That’s the harsh reality of what happens to many people during Ramadan. We all know it isn’t healthy to shy away from exercising in Ramadan, and we all start the Holy Month vowing to miss as few workout sessions as possible. But after a long day of working and fasting, especially following a heavy iftar, drowsing on the couch in front of the television sounds like the perfect way to spend the rest of the evening.
Mind over Body: Studying the Placebo Effect
The placebo effect is the “the measurable, observable, or felt improvement in health not attributable to treatment. This effect is caused by the administering of treatment that has no intrinsic therapeutic value in the healing process The Placebo effect first caused waves in the medical community when in the 1950’s, Henry K. Bleecher of Harvard University published experimental findings which suggested that a significant number of patients (30-40%) suffering from chronic ailments improved after taking a placebo. Over the decades the astounding advancements in medical technology and efficacious procedures have enhanced the quality and longevity of peoples’ lives.
Alexander Method: Body over Mind
Not the famed rag-time band of Irving Berlin, no, the Method. Most people have vaguely heard about it, and know it’s something in the alternative medicine world, and that’s as far as it goes. Actually, it has been going on a long time, and a good story it is, too. Frederick Matthias Alexander was born in Wynyard, Tasmania on 20 January 1869, the eldest of eight children of John and Betsy Alexander. He was sickly, affected by asthma, and not expected to live. He missed most of his regular schooling, and instead learned to work with horses, which gave him a sensitivity and touch, which proved valuable later on.
Flexibility for Athletes, the total body over mind workout:
The key to a successful athletic program is in developing the proper components for success: speed, endurance, strength, flexibility, balance, angles and focus. By incorporating a series of breathing, yoga and meditation/relaxation techniques, we’re able to enhance the components above. In developing the Flexibility for Athletes program, we incorporated optimal performance strategies drawn from the yoga tradition and specially tailored for the athlete.
