The Mind-Body Connection
2019 has finally arrived and with the start of a brand new year comes a host of newly-minted New Years resolutions. As fitness professionals, we’re committed to providing assistance to any who ask for it, but the dedication needed is entirely your own. When the mind is effectively connected to the body, you can achieve anything. In our case, a strong mind-body connection during a workout produces maximum results, and long-lasting effects that extend well past your waistline.
We’re ready to revolutionize your resolutions by helping you better understand where they come from – and in turn, help you keep them for good.
Healthy Lifestyle > Resolutions
The dictionary defines the word resolution quite simply: a firm decision to do or not to do something. When you think of it this way, there’s no permanence. A simple change of phrase from resolution to healthy lifestyle instantly adds the accountability and consistency that are key to long-term success. So what other ideas are good to keep in mind as you pursue your new healthy lifestyle?
- Find something you love to do
- Make sure your workout travels with you
- Join a community that supports and encourages you, and
- Take your time – it’s a lifestyle change, not an overnight process!
The Mind-Body Connection
The brain is the most powerful, complex organ in your body, and when you work out your body, you work out your mind in ways you might not expect. Think of it this way: your brain operates in distinct sections, and different bodily functions are housed in each. By strengthening the part of your brain that controls motor functions (e.g. exercising), you improve other abilities.
According to Dr. John Ratey, author of Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, “when we exercise… we’re also exercising the area of the brain involved in [a] full suite of cognitive functions.” The functionalities of the brain improved by physical exercise have only just begun to be discovered. Those that are known currently include (but are not limited to):
- Alertness and perception
- Movement and coordination
- Attention and concentration
- Learning and
- Memory
How to Make the Mind-Body Connection
When it comes to exercise and maintaining your resolutions, consistency and accountability are key. If you can’t be mindful in your workout, you won’t be consistent either. And from there on, it’s cyclical.
To reap the rewards, you must put in the work first! Countless clinicians (Dr. Ratey included) maintain that the best exercise practices for achieving an effective mind-body connection are ones that “simultaneously tax your cardiovascular system and your brain.” One that always tops the list? Pilates. With HSM’s pilates-style foundation combined with added cardio and resistance training, the mind-body connection is ever-present in The Studio.
When in doubt, to remove the eight pounds you must repeat the eight pounds – so choose those eight pound weights in class instead of the fives. Find your edge and let it lead you to your best, most empowered self; the journey of life is a long one, and we’re here to help, every step of the way!