What are mind-body practices?

What are mind-body practices?

When we think about health, we often separate our physical health from our mental health. We have different diagnoses, see different doctors or providers, and work to “get better” from specific conditions. More and more, medicine is uncovering how our physical and mental health affect one another. It’s as if our body and mind are dance partners—sometimes they blend into a waltz, other times a salsa, and on occasion it may feel as if the body and mind are hearing altogether different music, doing their own thing rather than working together!

Have you ever been a bit down, and convinced yourself, “I feel terrible.” Perhaps you even felt physical symptoms when you were unhappy, anxious, or stressed. That word “stress” … it’s a powerful one. We all feel it—we may sense a clock ticking or worry about what lies ahead. Our mind can get lost in that stress and the impact can build over time to create tension, cause us to lose sleep, eat poorly, all types of things that put us at risk of physical health problems.

Likewise, if you’ve ever been sick, managed a chronic health condition, or injury, it’s clear how physical challenges impact our mental health. You don’t feel well, you may not be able to do the things you want to do, and at some points, you may be afraid of what a diagnosis means for your future.

Mind-body practices are techniques or approaches used to address your well-being, in regard to both your physical and mental health. These practices may be used to address a particular health condition or to improve your well-being more generally. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health is a good source for information about all types of mind-body practices.

At Balancing Breath, we focus on a few specific mind-body practices that encourage you to understand how your body and mind can benefit one another.

What is yoga?

Yoga is a movement practice that includes physical poses (asanas), breath work (pranayama), and focus (drishti).

There are many styles of yoga and some also include self-inquiry or a spiritual focus. Here are a few aspects of yoga that vary across practices:

• Style: Yoga practices have different names that align with form and focus, like vinyasa, hatha, yin, restorative, power, etc.  

• Focus: The aim may be restoration, strength, agility or fitness, spiritual connection, alignment (posture), and so on.

• Form: Classes may flow (vinyasa), moving through a series of poses or you may move from one pose to the next with pauses in between.

• Temperature: Some classes are best done at higher temperatures (hot yoga).

• Sound: Classes may include music or be done in silence as a moving meditation. Some styles also incorporate chanting as a way to connect body, mind, and community.

• Pace: Classes can be vigorous and athletic or calm and quiet.

Yoga has transformed and adapted over many centuries. Science is helping us learn about the health benefits of yoga the breathing techniques that many practices include. In general, yoga helps us to find balance in our body and mind, and practices are adapted to be accessible to everyone using props or with practice in a chair.

What is meditation?

Meditation is a practice of calming the body and mind to focus inward on what matters most to you.

Meditation has roots in many cultural traditions and continues to be practiced in different ways. The practice is experienced physically and mentally as you find calm, and connect your awareness, noting thoughts and sensations that arise and letting them pass.

Some characterize meditation as a practice of exploring consciousness. As such, you are not sleeping or “turning off your mind” during meditation. It is an active practice of stillness, where you focus on your breath, a sensation (like a body scan), an intention (something important to you, like gratitude), or a mantra (a statement you repeat to yourself).

Meditation practice may be guided, with a teacher talking you through a body scan or a series of intentions. Some meditation practices include music or sounds, others are silent. Meditation can even be practiced while walking, which is a valuable way to focus on bodily sensations.

During meditation you are fully engaged. Whether you practice for a few minutes or a longer period, you are deliberate in your focus. We think, all day long, often in circles about the past and the future. Meditation is how we stop that inner conversation to find calm. With practice, research shows the health benefits of meditation, like better sleep and attention, increased mood, and other physical improvements. 

What is breath work?

Breath work is breathing on purpose using any number of techniques.

Breath is universal and constant for life. For most of the day you don’t think about your breath. In classes, you will learn to use your breath in different ways. Some practices are based in pranayama, or yogic breath work. Other classes focus on scientifically studied breath exercises found to benefit well-being.

In essence, your breath cleanses you from the inside out—breathe in what you need, breathe out what you don’t. Breath is your balancing tool—for your body and mind—and it creates a pause or space between your emotions and actions. That pause keeps you be mindful, so you respond rather than react. Your breathing patterns can also calm you, at times quickly, and without anyone noticing your practice. Likewise, breath can stimulate you and bring alertness, another a useful tool.

We are learning more about the science behind breathing with purpose as a way to improve mood and health. Whether you are looking to gain an edge at work or athletic performance or find a way to reset, unwind, or refocus, a single breath (or breath practice) can ground you in the moment and change your path.

Practice with us! 

Balancing Breath offers you a community of support to explore, enjoy, and benefit from mind-body practices. The more consistent you are with practice, the easier it will be to see the benefits play out in your life. Our classes may help you learn more about yourself, find confidence and balance, deepen your spirituality, and improve your well-being. We believe you will also make lasting memories with friends, new and way-back friends, who find a smile in our studio!