Equiscovering the Mind/Body Connection

Melinda Doolittle, one of America’s Top Idols this season, was so emotional after a performance that she couldn’t answer the question, “How are you feeling right now?” Judge Paula Abdul answered for her, saying Melinda had had an “out-of-body experience.”

Once Melinda regained her voice, she said with wonderment, “I didn’t know I could sing like that.” That tells me that she had just had a pinnacle moment—one where she was wholly present, body, mind and soul, while creating music from the core of her being.

It is moments like these that make life so rich and rewarding—moments when the mind is crystal clear and free of judgment, when the body is fully engaged and the heart knows just what there is to say or do. Strung together, these are the moments that make life joyful.

When was the last time you had such an experience? Was it today? Last week? Last year? Although we’re all capable of having them, we’re often so busy “doing” life that we miss them. We go through our days doing chores, fulfilling obligations, reacting to situations and events. Sometimes we compromise our own beliefs and values in the name of “keeping the peace,” or by playing the role of good boss, sister, wife and mother. We give away pieces of ourselves, so by the end of the day, who we are seems less clear.

Modern day life takes us away from ourselves, our bodies and our surroundings. The more time we spend hooked up to computers, cell phones, digital organizers and electronic entertainment, the less attention is paid to our thoughts, feelings and body sensations, as well as the world around us. We become automatons, living by habit rather than conscious choice.

Not only does the disconnect of mind and body keep us from experiencing joy, but it also hinders our ability to get along with others, work productively and stay healthy. Symptoms may be mental, such as lack of motivation, confusion, poor concentration and effectiveness, and irritability. They may be emotional (low self-esteem, anxiety or feeling misunderstood).

The mind/body disconnect can also be the root of unwanted actions and behaviors, such as eating poorly, chronic procrastination, or doing things over and over that aren’t healthy or productive. Combined with overscheduled days, these symptoms add up to prolonged stress, which can lead to illness and disease.

So how do we reconnect? The first step is to simply know that we are multidimensional beings. Nora C. Porter, MD, is a practitioner of “Lifestyle Medicine” or “Whole Person Medicine,” which uses traditional body-based medicine combined with holistic/integrative health practices. Her website states: “There is no separation of mind and body – all of its parts are intricately connected by complex psycho-neuro-endocrine pathways – mind and body are constantly communicating back and forth along a marvelously sophisticated two-way street.” (www.mindbodystresswellness.com)

Dr. Porter goes on to discuss a variety of health practices that draw on the “innate intelligence and ability of the body to regulate and heal itself.” These include meditation and relaxation, visualization and imagery techniques, and cognitive restructuring such as learned optimism and changing negative automatic responses.

A growing number of people in the wellness field focus on tranquil settings and getting back to nature as part of reconnecting to self. Author Mike George wrote in Discover Inner Peace that we are not fully awake if we do not use our senses, “at least part of the time, on a country walk.” The landscape, he said, “is rich in outward images that reflect profound inner realities.” For example, a rocky path might represent the challenges that need to be overcome to reach a particular goal.

Animals too can be our teachers, mirroring back to us how we are communicating or behaving. Nicole Ehrentraut, a Reiki healer and personal growth coach, has seen people have profound shifts in self-awareness in the presence of a horse. Her life experiences in international conflict resolution and participation in equine experiential workshops led to a keen interest in how horses facilitate self-discovery and learning.

According to Ehrentraut, when someone interacts with a horse, the horse responds immediately, providing feedback that can be used to gain awareness of mind and body. She calls this “equine biofeedback” because the horse’s response is dictated by signals given by the person – intentional or not. If the horse’s response was not the desired one, the person can reevaluate the communication and adjust the mind/body to get the desired response.

Ehrentraut said that horses are neutral sounding boards for people. “They’re nonjudgmental, and they reward us for being present to our feelings.” They do that by engaging with us when we are fully present. They also “show us how to use emotions and body language as information.” Ehrentraut leads clients through a choreography of self-discovery-based play, meditation, visualization and horse biofeedback activities. She also provides tools for incorporating newly found knowledge to improve behaviors and relationships at home and work.

For most Washington women, a visit to Equiscoverytm would be outside the norm, far from everyday life. It offers a “walk in the country” at a farm in Boyds, Maryland, and a chance to look at life from the inside out.

The contestants who blossom on American Idol do so because they want to better themselves and are willing to be coached by the judges, behind-the-scenes star-makers, and the public masses. We can’t all be American Idols, but we can bring our whole selves to every moment of every day – with awareness, with practice and with the support of others, both animal and human.