I am so fascinated with the mindbody connection. I grab everything I can on the subject and read it. I'm waiting for this book from the library: Mindfulness: An Eight-Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World, by co-author Mark Williams. I heard Mark William's interview on Science Friday and was completely fascinated. What really grabbed my attention in this interview was the discussion on what happens in our brain when we are frantically trying to fit everything into a 24 hour day and what it does to our body and mind. For people who live like that (hand raised here) we are actually in a fight or flight response. Because of this, adrenaline and cortisol are released into our systems to help us escape danger. One can only imagine the adverse affects this has on the mind and body over time.
What I have found is that through meditation, I am more quickly entering into meditative, peaceful state as compared to last year. Makes me wonder how much meditation and yoga I will need to do to reverse the bad effects of these biochemicals on my system.
I would like to add my thoughts on this when I begin reading the book. If you have read this book (or have read another book discussing mindbody connection) please contribute to this blog. We each have different and unique perspectives and I welcome as many views as possible. Namaste.
4 comments:
Due to my inner drive to give my all to every situation that comes my way, I am constantly fighting the ever present urge to be involved with everything. I have to make a constant effort to take a breath and step back and evaluate whether my input is needed, will really make a difference or if I should just let it go and not get anxious and let my adrenaline/cortisol levels rise. I need to be very conscious, every day, several times a day, to use my yoga breathing to calm me. Being conscious of my mind-body connection helps me every day. There really is nothing one can do about the past, but definitely can counter stress and improve one's health and well-being by understanding and utilizing the philosophy of mind-body connection.
You nailed it, Kathy! I have to ask myself WHY do I need to be involved. That's a question that I have to ask myself often...at times I find it's just my ego that needs to be stroked, then the bigger question needs to be: of what SERVICE can I be to improve this situation with no attachment to the end result. Alas, this is an on-going process, is it not?
A somewhat different take on this but surely related is a book I thoroughly enjoyed..."What I Talk About When I Talk About Running"
By Haruki Murakami. A physical practice like yoga or running helps bring us down out of our heads and reconnects us to our bodies where we are better able to take care of ourselves and pull out of that fight or flight state. Such an important topic! xox
Thank you for the recommendation! I'm always trying what I read--I really put my vulnerability out there. Thank God my hubby accepts me the way I am!
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