Andrew Keefe, a psychotherapist in his mid-40s, was feeling emotionally overwhelmed by his day job working with survivors of torture. Like so many people, the stress of Keefe’s job caused him to put on some weight. Determined to improve his well-being, Keefe joined an outdoor workout class and was shocked to discover that his state of mind changed completely. Not only did Keefe become physically healthy, he also found himself feeling blissful and happy.
Keefe is just one of many psychotherapists who are adding physical therapy and personal training qualifications to their CV’s. Practitioners are learning how to treat both mind and body as more evidence surfaces depicting the complex and important connection between the two. Keefe explains that in a perfect world, we would not have physical therapists and psychotherapists, we would just have therapists that treat both physical and mental problems.
Mind and body are so intertwined that the knowledge of anatomy and physiology required for personal training actually aids psychotherapists in treating their patients’ mental health distress. A holistic understanding of how the mind and body work, as well as how they affect one another is crucial for long-lasting solutions to society’s obesity and mental health crisis.
Many gyms are also focusing exercise classes on the mind-body connection and its importance. A fitness company named Gymbox began to offer workout classes tailored to support mental fitness. So far, the classes are hugely popular and most of the participants are returning for more, voicing feelings of newfound joy and invigoration.
Despite these monumental improvements, society still tends to operate under a mind-body split because it’s difficult for people to understand how their mental state affects their physical state and vice versa. Even though the link between mental and physical health is well-established, there needs to be a bigger push among the health and wellness community to educate and involve citizens in this type of therapeutic support. With 1 in 4 people experiencing a mental health issue, society needs a fundamental change in how we view mental and physical states. Check out this article for more info.