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| If You Mind, It Will Matter |
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by Lisa B. Minn, PT - February 28, 2011
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The Pragmatic Yogi has a new look. We’ve also got a new address. You can now find us at simply, ThePragmaticYogi.com. No more pesky .blogspot.com.
And keep your eyes open for a new Facebook Fan Page... coming soon!
I have just come from a fascinating course for Health Care Providers called, The Immune System: The Mind-Body Connection. I learned lots of great information that I hope to share with you in a future post but for now I just want to let you know about one study that gets to the heart of the whole course and that I think is a powerful example of why our minds make such a difference in the health of our bodies.
A study done in 2003 (Mendes et. al.) compared two groups of women, one control group and one ‘stigmatized’ group who had make-up applied applied to create the appearance of a large birthmark on their faces. But this group was really just tricked into thinking they had a birthmark. The makeup was actually transparent but the subjects saw a digitized photo that was altered to make them look like they did, in fact, have the birthmark. They were then asked to perform tasks such as speaking in front of other people.
The results indicated that the group that believed they had the birthmark demonstrated more signs of embarrassment and shame, and they perceived more negative behavior directed toward them. They also had more pathological autonomic nervous system (ANS) reactivity than the control group. Other studies have revealed that this ANS reactivity is associated with impaired immunity. This is just one study among many that demonstrates how perceived stress, whether real or not, can have negative affects on our health.
This study reminds me of a quote attributed to Mark Twain. He was asked how he felt about aging and his supposed response was, "Aging is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." I'm sure there is more physiological truth to this than he could have ever known. It those subjects didn't mind being 'stigmatized' by marks on their faces, their hearts wouldn't have raced, their palms would not have been sweaty and their immune systems would not have been taxed.
Stress management, having a positive mental attitude, having good coping skills are all essential elements to wellbeing. A life lived without yoga, regular exercise, meditation, prayer, a loving family, good friends and lots of laughs will be filled with unnecessary stress that can literally make us sick. I know most everyone reading this already practices yoga but what other ways do you deal with stress in your life? Does yoga ever cause stress? Do you ever have the perception that your down dog isn't quite good enough? Do you ever feel ashamed of the shape of your asanas? How do you get back to a positive and confident state of mind?
Stay happy, stay healthy!
Lisa Minn is a licensed physical therapist and yoga enthusiast. She has been incorporating aspects of Yoga and Pilates into her physical therapy practice since 2001 and became a certified yoga instructor in 2004. Her experience ranges from working with athletes at West Point and Georgetown to instructing elderly and wheelchair-bound clients in the fundamentals of Hatha Yoga. Lisa has conducted several lectures and workshops across the US, as well as in Honduras and Peru, where she volunteered her services. She currently resides and practices in Northern California. This and other articles by Lisa can be found at The Pragmatic Yogi.
The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.
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