Coach Maggi: Enhancing Wellness Through the Mind-Body Connection

Our mind and body are deeply connected. While it used to be common practice to view, evaluate, and treat them as separate body systems, new research is showing that this approach may not be best in all situations. Not only does our mind have the ability to impact our physical state, but the way we use our body has the ability to change our mental state as well.

It’s easy to look at the mind-body connection and view the trouble it can cause. Mental stress can easily turn into physical stress, leading to not only mental illnesses but manifesting into physical illnesses, too. The same can happen in the reverse, where physical illnesses can trigger struggles in our mind. While it’s easy to look at the bad, let’s shift for a moment to looking at the good.

If the mind and body are so powerfully connected that illness in one can trigger illness in the other, then it must be true that wellness in one can also trigger wellness in the other. When I am experiencing struggles in my mind, such as feelings of sadness or anxiousness, I have learned that I can turn to my body to help mitigate these feelings.

While it would be nice, the body cannot make changes to the mind by itself. To capture the full power of our body, it must be used, or put into motion. Just as we wouldn’t expect a tool, such as a hammer, to work well without proper intentions and someone swinging it, we can’t expect our bodies to work without proper intentions and initiations of action either.

The options of how we can put our body into motion to shift our mental state are endless, but three of my favorites include deep belly breathing, going for walks, and exercising. I love these options because they are all free and accessible at any time, anywhere.

The first step I take when I notice I am in an undesirable mental state is to take as deep of a breath as possible, with emphasis on elongating the time it takes for me to exhale. Taking deep breaths triggers our vagus nerve to turn on our parasympathetic nervous system, or the “rest and digest” system that helps initiate relaxation in our bodies. With intentional practice over time, you’ll notice that just one deep breath can trigger both your body and mind to relax.

If deep breathing is not enough, I will put the rest of my body into motion through either a walk, stretching, or a workout. While this is usually the last thing I want to do when I’m feeling down, it has the greatest effect on changing my mood. Try not to worry about your movement being perfect, and rather focus on the fact that you’re doing it.

Remember that you are important, your health is worth taking care of, and that you do not need to turn momentary pain into prolonged suffering. Tap into your body, your readily available tool, to shift from a state of illness into a state of wellness. The more we can do this, the easier it is to move toward overall and lasting health.

If you’d like inspiration on how to incorporate movement into your day without a gym or equipment, come attend one of my free sessions on Friday, February 21, 2025 at the Monticello Rotary Health & Wellness Fair at Resorts World Catskill. I’ll be teaching at 11:45am and 1:30pm and I hope to see you there!

Maggi Fitzpatrick is the Health & Wellness Columnist for The Sullivan County Democrat. Her “Moving Toward Health” column is published every Tuesday.

Image: Coach Maggi says moving your body is the most powerful way to change your mental state. (Credit: Maggi Fitzpatrick)