mental and physical health

1. Mental
Fitness &
Physical
Health Jennifer Kitchen
HW420-01
October 23, 2011

2. Connection of Mental Fitness in Physical Health
Research Mind/Body Approaches to
• Dr. Richard Davidson Mental Fitness
– Job Strain and Emotions • Tai Chi
• Dr. Candice Pert • Qigong
– Neuropeptides • Yoga
• Dr. Peter Schnall
– Map of the Brain

3. Research on Mind/Body Connection
• Davidson
– Mapped out areas of brain activation according to
• negative (right prefrontal cortex) and positive emotions (left prefrontal cortex).
– Olympians have higher levels of activation for the left prefrontal cortex
– Mental and physical life capacity is flexible, dynamic, and expansive.
– Robust health can result from systematic training of the mind through planned, systematic
inner development.
– The far reaches of human flourishing can be explored by training our mind
• (Dacher,P20-22)
• Pert
– Discovered message-carrying neuropeptides
– Thoughts, feelings, and visual images produce specific neuropeptides
– Neuropeptides alter our physiology to reflect a specific mental state.
• (Dacher, P17)
• Schnall
– Identified managers who suffered from “job strain” and those who didn’t.
– In the circumstance of high demand and low control, managers who felt overwhelmed by
their role developed disturbing emotions that led to chronic hypertension and enlarged
heart.
– The unrelenting stress of negative emotions
• Causes permanent change in physiology of the body.
• (Dacher, P19)

4. Benefits of Mental Fitness
Mental training reduces hyperactivity of the body helping to
control;
• Blood pressure
• Pulse
• Muscular tension
• Capillary blood flow
• Bowel and bladder motility
Mental Fitness
• Helps prevent mental distress and physical illness
• Enhances recovery from disease
• (Dacher, p83 & 86)

5. Mind/Body Connection in Exercise
– All physical activity can be beneficial to both mind
and body.
– Many people are already aware of the benefits
they get mentally when they exercise.
• Exercise helps relieve stress and clear the
mind.
– There are many exercises which are specifically
beneficial for both mind and body.

6. Mind/Body Exercise
• Tai Chi
• Ancient Chinese
• Movements that originate in martial arts practice.
• Practiced for its health and relaxation benefits.
• Creates well being .
• Combats stress.
• Popular low-intensity workout around the world.
• Qigong
• Translated from the Chinese to mean "energy cultivation" or "working with the life
energy."
• Ancient Chinese system of postures, exercises, breathing techniques, and
meditations.
• Techniques are designed to improve and enhance the body's qi.
• Bhakti Yoga
• One of six major branches of yoga.
• Represents the path of self-transcending love or complete devotion to the divine.
• Developed in Hindu culture.
• Focuses the believer's mind and heart on the divine.
• Focus is on worship, devotion, and service to the divine.

7. Conclusion
• Research has shown that there is a mind/body
connection.
• Mental training helps to control physiological
affects.
• Tai chi, Qigong, and Bhakti Yoga all work on the
mind and body.

8. References
• Dacher, E.S., (2006). Integral Health: the path to human flourishing. California:
Basic Health.