How the body responds to the mind

The body is not stupid - in fact, it's pretty damn clever.

I've been thinking a lot recently about the link between what's going on in our heads and how that manifests itself in our bodies.

This past couple of weeks I've never felt such a strong link between physical and emotional happiness - and it's even made me reassess my whole outlook when it comes to what I'm practising, and preaching.

Over the past week, without going into too much detail, I haven't been the happiest of bunnies - and this has triggered a week long sore throat and lingering cold, a spasmed lower back (that I've never had before), breakouts, dry skin and poor sleep. *Plays small violin*

What's so interesting is the change in these conditions (particularly the pain) when I'm around positive, loving people, or listening to my favourite music (old school garage of course). Yet the increase in pain when I'm alone, feeling sad, or around people giving off negative vibes is way more than just a coincidence.

This is something that was spoken about at a great workshop I went to on Friday night, led by Tanya Goodman Bailey of The Belly Love Method. (Yes it was a wild Friday night out, exploring my digestion!) Tanya highlighted so many interesting links between digestive health and emotions, the management of pain, and simple techniques such as singing and using body scans to reduce and even eliminate pain completely.

While it's nothing new, the idea that your body is simply a reflection of your mental wellbeing, and that we can actually not only create pain, but also eliminate pain with the power of the mind, it's made me even more passionate that when it comes to health promotion if we can address what's going on in our minds, the rest will just follow naturally.

So with that in mind, I'm off to meditate for a few minutes before dinner with some people I love.

Here's to a happy mind in 2016.

Ruth xxx