Total Health Breakthroughs: Free Natural Health Newsletter and Alternative Health Articles

Mind-body exercise has exploded in the fitness industry over the last 8 to 10 years, although the concepts have been around for centuries. Tai chi and yoga are good examples of exercise whose primary goal was not just physical fitness, but to become more peaceful and spiritually centered through physical movement. This is the goal of newer mind-body fitness classes, most of which use music, aromatherapy and candles or other soft lighting effects to help engage all the senses and to set the tone of the class.

Most mind body fitness classes will use exercise techniques where you can move through exercises slowly, staying focused on your movements and actions, and often synchronize your breathing with your movements. There is great attention to body alignment and focus on energy.

I love the concept of these classes because it takes exercise from being just another thing to fit into an already busy schedule, where we are sometimes just rushing ourselves through the motions, to something that allows you to really connect with and become mindful of what you are doing for your body. And so these classes work wonders for stress reduction while also working to improve core strength, increase strength and flexibility, and improve balance. They also teach us how to use our breath to calm the body and mind.

Men and women from 9 to 90 are filling classes around the globe in search of that quiet place away from the stress of our real world, to sweat, stretch, breathe and release; a place to “let go.” Believe me, when you receive these kinds of benefits from a more centered exercise program, your motivation is very high to make sure you get to your classes. It is something you can’t wait to do.

Many fitness instructors are doing mind-body fitness classes now using a variety of exercise and movement techniques. This can include everything from pilates, to yoga and tai chi as I mentioned, to other posture and alignment techniques like the Alexander Technique, and many that are actually hybrids of all of these.

A friend of mine, David Mesirow, who is an internationally known fitness presenter and master trainer, developed a mind-body exercise program using a foam balance beam, which is called BEAMFIT.¹ Even though the BEAMFIT sits right on the ground, when you are on it you are still 2 to 3 inches above the ground, which immediately engages your core and automatically heightens your focus and concentration.

The BEAMFIT is a brilliant innovation because it’s the perfect way to encourage focused attention, which is a primary goal of mind-body-fitness programs. When you combine it with the other sensory components (music and scented candles, etc.), it is a great fit.

BEAM is an acronym for Balance, Engage, Align and Move,² and I feature it not only because I am a BEAMFIT instructor, but because it is an example of a really good mind-body fitness program, in which the goals are not just physical, they also move you toward self-empowerment.

Mind-body exercise programs elevate fitness and the fitness industry to a whole new level in my opinion. To date, the industry has been too much about scrutinizing how we look or just focusing on our weight. It tends to focus on exercise as something “we should do,” which can lead to negative feelings. I mean, have you ever noticed how often exercise feels like a struggle?

Mind-body exercise redirects your focus to something that is very positive and peaceful; you are not trying to force your body to do anything; you are accepting your body as it is while allowing it to transform from the inside out.

If you would like more information about BEAMFIT, or to find out about classes in your area, you can visit their website, www.beamfit.com. Otherwise just search the internet for mind-body exercise classes in your area.

References

1. Borgenicht, N. American Fitness. January/February; 2009: 54-55.
2. Mesirow, D. Professional Training Guide, Foundational Beaming. 2008, 26-30.

[Ed. Note: Melissa Hawthorne, RN, BSN, CSCS is the owner of Priority Fitness Personal Training and Wellness. She is a Master Trainer for the Resist-a-ball Company, ISCA Personal Training, Kick-boxing, and Beamfit. Melissa serves as a fitness consultant for the LaValle Metabolic Institute. To learn more, click here.]