Mindfulness, Mental Health and Movement

Why it matters.

We all know that exercise is medicine. It is good for our muscular, skeletal, cardiovascular, immune, respiratory systems. Exercise regulates our mood, it relieves depression, it is a prescription we should all be taking.

Movement is medicine.

In the last month I have been exploring the link between exercise and mental health, depression, meditation. Thank you for your responses they have reinforced the importance of activity for mental health.

More evidence for mindfulness and mental health.

A study published last week by Penn State has shown that mindful movement, like walking, will improve wellbeing if it is done mindfully. Being aware of breathing and surroundings helped students relieve stress.

More than 50% of students report feelings of anxiety, sadness or mental exhaustion at least once a year. 

The good news is that the students could use the time walking between classes to practice mindful movement, they didn’t have to engage in strenuous exercise. Researcher Chih-Hsiang “Jason” Yang says,

“When people were both more mindful and more active than usual, they seem to have this extra decrease in negative affect. Being more active in a given moment is already going to reduce negative affect, but by also being more mindful than usual at the same time, you can see this amplified affect.”

On more reason to meditate

A new study from Iceland has linked severe stress to autoimmune diseases. In over 100,000 people those with severe stress had a 36% higher risk of developing an autoimmune disease. Stress has an effect on lifestyle and affects sleep, eating habits, increased drug, and alcohol use and may also directly affect the nervous system.

This emphasizes the need for mental health services as treatment reduced the risk of developing an autoimmune disorder.

Mental and Physical

We are not two separate systems, but one whole. There is no separation between brain and body. Our mental health has an effect on our physical self and vice versa. 

New research from Massassachussetts General Hospital has shown that both Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction training and Relaxation Response training reduce stress and increase mindfulness but with unique brain activity.

Author Gunes Sevinc compares them to physical training,

“These findings indicate that the programs are working through different neural mechanisms … It is somewhat analogous to weight training versus aerobic exercise — both are beneficial, but each has its unique mechanism and contribution.”

Mindfulness can be practiced anywhere at any time. There are many ways to meditate. The benefits, like exercise, are numerous and not limited to any one system.

If you don’t meditate or practice mindfulness here is one  resources to get you started.

Change your mind, change your health,

Shayla