Mind/Body exercises are gaining popularity due to their many proven physical benefits as well as emotional benefits – particularly for managing stress and anxiety. Many forms of mind/body exercises are beneficial for people with conditions that might not allow them to participate in “regular” forms of exercise, but they can also help advanced exercisers enhance their fitness levels and become more balanced.

Some published benefits that have been credited to mindful exercise and meditation include:

• Aids existing stress and anger management programs
• Reduces the medical and economic costs of psychological distress
• Improves muscular strength, flexibility, balance and coordination
• Reduces falls in the elderly
• Improves glucose tolerance
• Reduces responsiveness to stress hormones
• Increases self-awareness, self-efficacy, and personal empowerment
• Decreases state anxiety and neuroticism and trait anxiety
• Decreases pain and pain sensation
• Reduces blood pressure
• Improves blood lipid profile
• Improves bone mineral density
• Improves pulmonary function and cardiorespiratory fitness

Source: Ralph LaForge, MS, IDEA Fitness Journal, July 1998