Brain-body connection and why I LOVE what I do!

charlottelattin7
Sep 30
6 min read

Hi lovely reader, thanks for reading my latest blog :) Hopefully this will help to show both how and why I consider the brain and the body in all of my work!

In our busy lives, it’s so easy to forget just how important it is to take care of both our minds and bodies. As someone who has been working with bodies in massage and fitness as well as lecturing in psychology for several years, I know a lot about the brain and human behaviour.

This may not at first seem relevant to my work with bodies but it really is - research shows how deeply connected our mental and physical health truly is. I'll tell you a little more about why I work the way I do - considering both aspects through exercise and massage treatments You should come away understanding a bit more about how a holistic approach can really boost the effect of massage and exercise.

What is the 'mind-body connection'?

You might have heard about the mind-body connection—it’s a concept in psychology and health that has been gaining quite a lot of air time recently. Basically, it’s all about how our mental state and physical health influence each other. When we get moving and exercise, our bodies release those feel-good endorphins that can lift our spirits and help us shake off stress.

On the flip side, when we’re feeling mentally stressed, it can show up in our bodies as tension or pain. So, understanding this connection is key to making the most out of our exercise and massage sessions. Considering what you have going on in terms of stress or emotions can be key to unlocking some physical aches and pains or tension patterns. A key example here can be jaw pain and tension headaches but it can also apply to back ache and other physical symptoms.

How does exercise help the brain?

If you know me you will know that I love doing exercise for the feel good factor, not just the health benefits. Exercise isn’t just about getting fit; it’s also a fantastic way to boost our mental health. I know this first hand having suffered from depression and anxiety at times.

Here are some benefits of exercise that you might find interesting:

Reduction of Anxiety and Depression: Regular workouts can really help lower feelings of anxiety and depression, giving you a brighter outlook on life. Find the exercise you love though - don't push through something that makes you feel worse! If you want some ideas drop me a line.
Improved Cognitive Function: Moving your body can enhance brain function, leading to sharper memory, better focus, and improved decision-making. Taking a lunch time break can reduce that afternoon slump (or is that just me?!)
Stress Relief: Exercise acts as a natural stress buster, helping you manage daily pressures and build resilience. I love a run after a day in front of a screen but it can be as simple as a walk round the block with the dog. Being in nature can reduce your stress levels too but that's one I will tell you more about in another post!
Better Self-Esteem: Crushing your fitness goals, whether they are big or small, can give your confidence a serious boost, contributing to a healthier self-image. Finding positive things that you are proud of can help to overcome negative thoughts and self-doubt. To find out more and get more tips on this feel free to get in touch. If this is an area that you struggle with some coaching alongside fitness work might be beneficial.

How does massage come into this?

Massage therapy is a perfect partner to exercise, helping to tackle both physical tension and mental stress. It's not just the time out and lying on a soft couch in a relaxing space (but of course that helps...).

Here are a few ways that massage can elevate your overall well-being:

Muscle Relaxation: Massage techniques work wonders on tight muscles, easing pain and promoting relaxation, which is great for post-exercise recovery and for reducing tension from emotional tension or stress.
Improved Circulation: Massage increases blood flow, delivering oxygen and nutrients to your muscles, which helps with recovery and boosts your overall vitality. A great deal of tension comes from 'sticky' connective tissue (see my previous post here about fascia) and relaxation alongside circulation boost from massage can really help with this.
Stress Reduction: The calming nature of massage can lower cortisol levels, helping you feel more relaxed and at ease. High cortisol impacts a range of hormones and bodily functions, including HRV (another one I will talk about another time). Many people are functioning with long term (chronic) high cortisol - which can result in burnout. Regular massage can help to bring this down.
Mindfulness and Presence: Getting a massage encourages you to tune into your body, fostering a deeper connection between your mind and body. This can help you to identify when other factors are likely to impact your stress, or pick up earlier cues from your body that injury might be on the way in from factors like posture or overtraining (before they become an issue!).

How do I integrate brain and body into my work?

This is the aim of my treatments and classes - to really tap into the benefits of both exercise and massage, it’s important to blend mind and body practices.

The key principles I use with clients are:

Mindful Movement: Bringing mindfulness into workouts and massage is so important. Focusing on your breath and how your body feels with every movement can help you to move more efficiently and to be more in tune with how to challenge your body and when to pull back. Exercises that get the brain going stimulate more than the body - and that's what we want. Neuromuscular connections and brain-stimulated pathways can help improve nerve function, brain function and muscle memory - there are lots of reasons to challenge the brain and body in exercise. This also applies to massage - working on muscles when they are in a relaxed state can help the body learn to be 'safe' in a more stretched out position, helping to improve long-term posture and movement patterns. That's why I try to make all treatments 'relaxing', even when deep work is needed.
Recovery and Reflection: After exercising, I encourage clients to take a moment to check in with themselves. Reflecting can help you to note your success and also to develop that sense of whether you need more challenge or some rest and recovery. We always consider what was good and what was tough after movement sessions. This can help you to pick out some of those positives to build self-esteem too.
Rest, relaxation and recovery: Body awareness and self care that considers functional movement and emotional wellbeing is a key component of my massage treatments. Recovery and relaxation are key to performance - whether athletic performance or day to day life. Scheduling regular massage sessions can really help with recovery and relaxation and shows your commitment to yourself. Remember, your body is the only one you have.
Holistic Approach: I take a holistic approach to your health. I take a full consideration of each client, whether that is for massage, movement coaching or life coaching. I encourage clients to bring in the approach that I take - to mix exercise, massage, and mindfulness practices to create a balanced routine.
Education and Awareness: I have a love of learning and also feel that knowledge is power - I try to explain issues to clients so that they can understand the issues and to work on these outside of sessions, not just to come to me as the expert. This might mean explaining an aspect of anatomy, giving some exercises or stretches or explaining how meditation can help with back pain. It varies but the idea is that you go away feeling more able to take care of your body and mind, to feel better.

Hopefully you can see my passion about the approach I take with clients! The connection between our minds and bodies is incredibly powerful and shouldn’t be ignored. Rather than seeing the body and brain as separate, we need to consider their connection and interactions. That way we can develop more effective exercise and massage treatments that enhance our overall physical and mental wellbeing - my aim for each client!

Ready for your next session or treatment? Book in here

Have a question or want to know more about any of this drop me a line charlottelattin.wellbeing@gmail.com

Charlotte