In my last post I wrote about what I am doing to develop my mind and emotions with the intention of ultimate healing from Parkinson's disease. You may say, what do the mind (brain) and the emotions (heart) have to do with what is a disease of the body? And isn't it true, you also may say, that there is no cure for Parkinson's?
I choose to have hope and believe that there is a possibility of healing from this disease, though honestly, I don't know that I will be able to. I think it takes a great effort, and I may not have the strength or will to achieve total healing. But I believe that most illnesses are a product of stress of some kind, and the mind and emotions play a role in responding to stress. So I add them to my portfolio of health strategies with a goal of stemming the progression, at least, if not totally healing from Parkinson's.
Almost all the physical activities I take part in have an overlap with either mind or emotions or both. Rock Steady boxing for instance, has a social, group aspect (heart) and challenges to the brain too, usually coordinating the body with the mind, such as remembering a sequence of punches or steps. The program is designed to be a whole body exercise including emotional and cognitive exercise.
Qigong (chee-gong) is the perfect integration of mind, heart and body. Relaxation of and awareness of the body are key. It's meditative exercise, some of it moving, some in stillness. Some practitioners of qigong visualize energy (qi) entering and healing their bodies and toxic or stale energy being swept away. Others focus only on the sensations of their body, in their physical heart, brain, gut. As I learn and get deeper into qigong practice, I try both approaches, and think they can be done simultaneously.
More to say about all this... next post.
