MIND BODY CONNECTION

The mind is a part of the body, and when we influence the mind, and the body is affected. The reverse is also true. Communications between body and mind are instantaneous. As soon as the mind has thought or feeling, there is an immediate and corresponding reaction in the body that pervades the entire system. For example, when we are stressed, anxious or upset, our body will try to tell us that something isn’t right. For example, high blood pressure or a stomach ulcer might develop after a particularly stressful event. In yoga we can affect the mind and body by using the focus of the mind and the breath to affect the internal systems of the body; including the digestive system, circulatory system, hormonal systems and the nervous systems.

The body has two nervous systems, sympathetic, and parasympathetic. The sympathetic system, also called the "fight or flight" system, causes blood pressure to rise, breath rate to increase, and stress hormones to flow through the body. This prepares the body for fight. In today's world this occurs when we are stressed or agitated. If the parasympathetic system becomes over stimulated it can result in health problems such as ulcers, migraines and heart disease.

The parasympathetic system does the opposite, lowering blood pressure and slowing the pace of your breathing. This frees the blood to travel to digestive, reproductive, glandular, and immune systems of the body. These systems contain the organs that are essential for health and long term survival. The body has time now to heal from the damage of daily battles. Long, deep breathing exercises encourage the actions of the parasympathetic system, allowing relaxation and healing. The breathing meditations practiced in yoga encourage the parasympathetic nervous system.

Understanding the power of the mind body connection can bring great wisdom to a yoga practice and dramatically change a practitioners focus and approach. As performance improves (we become more efficient in postures, using less physical energy), and focus on meditation increases, the degree of physical effort decreases and relaxation increases. Iyengar defines performance improvement as allowing wisdom and wise action from within to bring direction.