Mind-body medicine is a branch of healthcare that focuses on the connection between the mind and body and how this connection can impact an individual's physical and mental health. It recognizes that the mind and body are interconnected and that the state of the mind can affect the functioning of the body, and vice versa. This approach to healthcare incorporates a range of techniques and practices, such as meditation, yoga, and qigong, to address physical and mental health concerns and promote overall well-being.
The mind-body connection is at the heart of both yoga and qigong practices.
Yoga
Yoga is so much more than just physical exercise. Yoga is an entire science with a history of over 5000 years. The word yoga is Sanskrit and means union/balance. One could see yoga as a tool to be used to maintain physical and mental health, but above all it is a technique for increased awareness, self-knowledge and spiritual development.
Regular yoga practice increases the ability to learn to listen inwardly and increases awareness of what is happening in the body and mind. Unconscious behaviors and patterns come to the surface. Tensions and blockages in the body and mind are discovered and once you become aware of them, you can use various techniques to resolve everything from scratch. Being aware means being constantly present in the present moment.
The purpose of all yoga is to create a balance to achieve and maintain an increased awareness, to experience and discover who you really are, to achieve a deeper spiritual insight into the true nature of reality, to make you as a human being fully aware and reach your full potential.
Qigong
Qigong is a traditional Chinese practice that involves physical movements, breathing techniques, and meditation to cultivate and balance qi (vital energy) in the body. Like yoga, qigong recognizes the close connection between the mind and body and seeks to cultivate a harmonious balance between the two. Through the practice of qigong, individuals can improve physical strength and flexibility, reduce stress and anxiety, and enhance overall well-being.
By bringing awareness to the present moment and the sensations of the body, both yoga and qigong help to cultivate a deeper connection between the mind and body and can support the integration of physical, mental, and emotional well-being.