Benefits of Mind-Body Therapy
An eclectic style of Naturopathic Hands on Therapy paired with Healing Modalities and Mind/Body Coaching.
Mind-Body Therapy Experience
Calm your mind, rebalance your nervous system and support your overall healing with Mind-Body Therapy Sessions by Dr. Rachel Stummer, Naturopathic Doctor
What is the Mind-Body Connection?
The mind and the body are not two separate entities—although they are often treated that way. Physical health and emotional health are intimately intertwined in what’s known as the mind-body connection. Our chemistry and biology impact our mood and emotions, as well as thoughts and beliefs.
The brain and body are connected through neural pathways made up of neurotransmitters, hormones and chemicals. These pathways transmit signals between the body and the brain to control our everyday functions, from breathing, digestion and pain sensations to movement, thinking and feeling. With all of these factors combined, they play a major role in influencing our stress and physical health.
Until approximately 300 years ago, virtually every system of medicine throughout the world treated the mind and body as a whole. It is imperative as we live in an era of time that is trending more towards self regulation/care, and getting back to simple mind-body care approaches.
Why is the Mind-Body Connection Important?
Two words…Self-Regulation
The power of the connection between the mind and body cannot be denied. Enhancing self awareness of the feelings, and sensations of the body greater strengthen our minds ability to perceive these feelings. With increased perception and self awareness it is easier to retain your body response to stress and stimulate the innate ability to heal.
Dr. Rachel offers Naturopathic Hands on Therapy paired with Mind-Body Coaching
This style of therapy aims to provide physical healing as well as tools to strengthen the relationship and awareness with the body and mind. This eclectic style of therapy is chosen uniquely for your needs and constitution, and may include any blend of modalities:
Acupuncture
This energetic system of medicine helps to clear your mind, providing additional energy and a heightened mental state. This promotes a calming and relaxing effect on the body.
Cupping Therapy
Has benefits for physical and emotional concerns. The negative pressure from the cups promote the flow of blood through the body. Which benefit physical concerns and promote a relaxed nervous system.
Mind-Body Coaching
Coaching integrated through the session helps to regulate emotions, navigate through mindset and implement more positive thinking, and bring greater self awareness to the body and mind.
Soft Tissue Massage with Acupressure
Healing power of touch causes release of feel good hormones such as “oxytocin.” Benefits to massage include lowering stress hormones like cortisol, relieving muscle tension and reducing pain.
Guided Meditations or Affirmations
Using the power of breath and meditation helps to retrain, recharge and relax the nervous system and calm the mind.
Healing Sounds
Tibetan Singing Bowl and Tingsha Bell Chimes Relaxing with these healing sounds helps to improve concentration, release emotional tensions and can ease mental or emotional pain.
“Our health requires a mind-body connection. What is in the mind is reflected in the body. The truth to health is a process. A sequences of changes must occur. The mind is already envisioning health or the healing won’t occur. ”
Top 4 Benefits of Mind-Body Therapy
Mind-Body Therapy may benefit both physical and psychological concerns.
Benefit #1 - Reduce stress and calm the mind
The relationship between stress, physical health, and mental health strongly impact each other. Mind-Body therapy sessions acts as a great way to calm an overactive nervous system by using gentle physical treatments in a calming environment.
These hands on sessions are a gentle but effective way to rebalance and regulate the nervous system. They are great for concerns such as: stress and burnout, ADHD, and an over worked brain.
Benefit #2 - Improve the Mind Body Connection
The mind and the body are not two separate entities—although they are often treated that way. Physical health and emotional health are intimately intertwined in what’s known as the mind-body connection.
Blending the healing power of touch with coaching elements help to cultivate greater body awareness which helps to manage the stress response.
This type of therapy is great for strengthening and retrain the nervous system. Conditions well suited for this include: Digestive Concerns such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), addictions and withdrawals, and symptoms of panic and anxiety.
Benefit #3 - Reduce Anxiety and Depression
The mind-body connection is the link between a person’s thoughts, attitudes, and behaviours and their physical health. These sessions are a great way to “get out of your head” and back into the present moment with physical healing modalities.
Mindfulness acts to fosters self-regulation, resilience and well-being through increased awareness, healthy behaviors, and stress management
Enjoying the benefits of physical healing modalities helps to break the attention away from rumination and embrace the present moment. Mindset coaching is integrated to be able to navigate through the mind and feel more calm.
Benefit #4 - Improve Chronic Pain
Chronic pain has a complex impact on the mind and mental health. Strengthening the body-mind connection is important to strengthen the awareness in your body, and train the nervous system, which can help to manage pain better.
A benefit of this style of therapy helps to foster more mindfulness. This helps with regards to improving chronic pain and it changes what the mind is processing and transform into more positive thoughts.
Mind-Body therapy helps to reduce pain, and support your overall health and well-being.
References:
Kilkus, Jennifer. “Is the Mind-Body Connection Real? | Psychology Today Canada.” Www.psychologytoday.com, 2023, www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/navigating-cancer/202203/is-the-mind-body-connection-real. Accessed 8 Aug. 2023.
Jonas, Wayne. “Mind-Body Approaches to Coping with Pain | Psychology Today Canada.” Www.psychologytoday.com, May 2023, www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/how-healing-works/202305/mind-body-approaches-to-coping-with-pain. Accessed 8 Aug. 2023.
Lake, James. “Acupuncture for Anxiety | Psychology Today Canada.” Www.psychologytoday.com, Oct. 2018, www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/integrative-mental-health-care/201810/acupuncture-anxiety. Accessed 8 Aug. 2023. Levine GN. The Mind-Heart-Body Connection. Circulation. 2019;140(17):1363-1365. https://www.newportacademy.com/resources/mental-health/understanding-the-mind-body-connection/ Al-Bedah AMN, et al. (2018).
The medical perspective of cupping therapy: Effects and mechanisms of action.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2225411018300191 “Body-Mind Integration: Training Attention for Mental and Physical Health.” PositivePsychology.com, 31 Jan. 2017, positivepsychology.com/body-mind-integration-attention-training/.
Harvard Health Publishing. “Understanding the Stress Response .” Harvard Health, 2020, www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-the-stress-response. Sniezek, David P., and Imran J. Siddiqui. “Acupuncture for Treating Anxiety and Depression in Women: A Clinical Systematic Review.” Medical Acupuncture, vol. 25, no. 3, June 2013, pp. 164–172, https://doi.org/10.1089/acu.2012.0900.
American Psychological Association. “Stress Effects on the Body.” American Psychological Association, 8 Mar. 2023, www.apa.org/topics/stress/body.