Have you ever observed the changes in your body when you are angry, anxious, stressed? This is not a new phenomenon that physical wellbeing is directly linked with, mental state of an individual.
Research has documented that the stressful emotions alter white blood cell function. Stress reduces abc response to viral infected cells. It is observed that wounds heal less speed and vaccination is less effective in those who are stressed. This is just few examples that shows the impact of mind on the body.
Ayurvedic experts and sages had identified this concept long time back and mentioned in the manuscripts. The concept of wellbeing starts from the concept of balancing mind and body with the help of various modalities. Let’s dwell on some interesting things about mind and body balance, how they are interlinked, and many more.
Mind, body connection
Before knowing about the connection between mind and body, it’s important to know about the location of the mind in your body. It’s a common misconception that the mind is placed in the brain. However, it’s not true.
Our Ayurvedic scriptures say that the mind is also located in the heart and knowledge organs or ten Indriyas. These ten knowledge organs are the subtle energetic pathways of the mind. Knowledge organs grab the information transmit to the Mind (manas) and screened by buddhi (intellect).
Ayurveda describes that these knowledge organs are rooted in the heart and go through the ten channels of the body. These knowledge organs consist of 5 Sense organs or gyana indriyas, eyes, ears, nostrils, tongue, skin. Five Motor organ or karma indriyas are genitals, anus, upper limb and lower limb.
This is the reason your mind gets disturbed when you see, smell, or hear something distressed. What you see, hear, smell, or think directly impacts your mind. You can observe this direct relation between your mind and body in your daily lives.
Interestingly, the heart is the only organ that is connected to each part of the cell in your body. Therefore, the mind is also connected to each cell, tissue, and organ of your body. So, the mind affects each cell in your body. Similarly, each cell affects your mind. In this subtle way, the mind and the body are interlinked.
how to improve mind body balance
There are several ways to improve the balance between the mind and the body such as diet, exercises, meditation, good sleep, etc. Here is everything that you should know about how to improve your mind and body balance.
- Diet
Healthy nutrition will nourish your body as well as mind. Ayurveda highly recommends taking a sattvic, alkaline diet. This not only promotes eternal peace but also balances the physical and mental constituents.
Eating freshly prepared foods consisting of six tastes such as salt, sweet, pungent, sour, bitter, and astringent promote health. Also, each taste has its importance in promoting good health.
- Routine Meditation
Meditation is one of the best tools to heal the body and mind. Meditation calms down your mind and body. Few minutes of deep breathing along with meditation is said to eliminate all toxins from the body. It enhances the oxygen intake thus more oxygen is available for brain and other organs.
Also, it enhances focus and concentration. Hence, this is indeed a great tool to balance your mind and body.
- Regular Exercises
It has been seen that yoga, walking, sports holds an important part in promoting wellness, positive strength, and health. All these provide good muscle strength, mental strength, and maintain balance in your life.
- Appropriate sleeping habits
Sleep plays an important role in your physical as well as mental well-being. While in sleep, our body try to rebuild and replace damage cells and tissues. As per Ayurveda, our biological cycle synchronise with nature’s cycle thus help in balancing doshas. It synchronise with our mind and thoughts, complex cocktail of chemicals/hormones releases to rejuvenate mind and body.
Several studies have shown that sleep enhances learning ability. However, sleep deprivation is linked to depression, anxiety, and various other mental aliments.
- Good relationships and conduct
Most probably, you have listened that one person is enough in your life who is loving and loyal to you. Even researches have said that good social relations enhance physical and mental well-being.
So, surround yourself with good people and positive thoughts, to avoid negativity thoughts. Yoga Sutra also suggests five yamas or moral restraints for mental wellbeing. These are, Ahimsa or non-violence, Satya or truthfulness, astray or freedom for stealing, brahmacharya or moderation, aparigraha or non-hoarding.
Conclusion
Mind and body balance play a crucial role for your good health. According to Ayurveda, your thoughts drive your health. So, it’s your choice to select the path that promotes good health.
Whenever filling ill, do not stress yourself instead, calm the senses, take deep breaths, and move slowly to resolve situation. Avoid, stress, anxiety, fear, anger, negative thoughts leads to mental issues in turn affects body and healthier lifestyle.
Maintaining a sattvic diet, exercises, good sleep, and surrounding yourself with good people and thoughts are enough to heal the illnesses.
