The body is not a mindless machine; instead the body and mind are one. Research in the fields of neurophysiology and biophysics has suggested that our emotions, feelings and thoughts may exist in all places in the body and not just in the brain. Our perceptions and awareness thus become vital to our well-being, health and longevity. For most of us, the words healthy lifestyle conjures up images of low-fat foods and a daily exercise routine. While these are all good for the physical aspects of the body, the missing component has been on focusing and caring for our minds. So how do we do this? We must learn to acknowledge and claim our feelings, and not just the positive ones. Guilt, anger, grief and fear if denied will release toxic chemicals into our bodies. The longer we deny them the more toxic they become which often takes the form of an explosive release of “pent-up” emotions. Expressing our feelings and learning to let them go is essential to our health. We must also learn how to become more conscious so we can better “listen in” to what our bodies and minds are telling us. Only then will we be able to enter into that internal conversation where well-being, health and longevity are determined.

Zach Lush is a performance enhancement specialist and certified personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). To discover more on his training and research visit www.pimathletics.com.