How to Improve overall wellness
There are many benefits to be had by doing certain exercises. You can engage both your mind and body at the same time. And together they can improve your overall health and wellness.
By doing these exercises they can boost your immune system as well as help relieve stress and anxiety. They also help you manage pain.
It’s a fact that your thoughts greatly affect your the physical response of your body.
Yoga helps flexibility
Yoga is probably the most popular and best known ancient discipline and mind body exercise. It fully unites the spirit, mind, and body through a series of poses that require flexibility, meditation, and concentration.
Improve mobility
People of all ages can do yoga to some degree. For those with mobility issues chair yoga is especially popular and also with many seniors. Consistently practicing yoga will improve your circulation, and your bodily functions. It also boosts the immune system and circulation.
Yoga is also really beneficial for balancing your metabolism. And it allows for chronic pain to be controlled as each muscle group is worked in every direction. It is truly an overall body workout. It is also precise, yet gentle, and can be undertaken at any fitness level.
Tai Chi excellent for balance
This ancient Chinese martial art grew from the Taoist philosophy. It places its value on reflection and serenity. Today with Tai Chi the practice combines meditation, dance, and exercise.
In some communities Tai Chi is often practiced outdoors where participants follow a teacher. It’s not uncommon to see groups participating in parks.
Enjoy low impact moves
In this specific form of mind body exercise the moves are low-impact, slow, and balanced. And they 
are completed in sequences that are known as forms. The moves have been favored from the animal kingdom.
The move comes with a precise shifting of body weight, controlled breathing, and requires concentration. Because Tai Chi is so gentle and helps with balance it’s another great way for seniors to get healthy exercise for body, mind and spirit.
Improve brain health
It increases brain volume and has been shown to improve learning and memory (Mortimer, et al, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3788823/). Additionally, it can reduce the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. Plus the moves benefit of improved coordination, and providing better balance which is crucial as you get older.
Qigong for slow gentle movements
This is a healing practice and requires different movements. They are not the same movements as Tai Chi but they are similar in that they both use slow movements. Qigong also includes rubbing hands, ears, and feet. Also moving the head around and arms moving up and down.
It’s also known as chi gung and is a holistic system of coordinated body posture and movement, breathing, and meditation. This practice is used for the purposes of health, spirituality, and martial arts training.With its roots in Chinese medicine
The postures are simple and very precise.
Relaxation Breathing to release stress and anxiety
Mindful breathing is one of the most effective ways to manage your stress as it comes up. And it’s the power of the mind that can guide your breathing as it allows you to adjust your breathing rate. You can change from shallow breathing which is not at all helpful to deep, relaxing and thoughtful abdominal breaths.
You can practice your breathing anywhere and take back control of your emotions. Imagine there is a balloon in your abdomen, your breaths need to fill it so you can concentrate on that action. This is the correct way to breathe.
Abdominal breathing
When you breathe now where do you feel or see the breathe go where’s the movement? For most people it’s most likely in your chest, but it should be the abdomen you see rising and falling. With every abdominal breath, you will start to feel less panic and more relaxed.
Muscle Relaxation from head to toe
This practice involves specific muscle groups being tensed and relaxed in sequence until you have finished the whole body. You tighten a muscle group for around ten seconds and then release them while noticing how it feels once you have done so.
You should start at the feet and then work right up through to your scalp. This engages the mind as well as the body because your mind is controlling your actions.
Weight training boosts muscles and brain
You may wonder why this is considered as a mind body exercise. While it may not be officially named 
mind body exercise, weight training absolutely engages and benefits the mind.
Weight training builds muscle while boosting your brain cells. As you lift the weight concentrate on how your muscles feel as they tighten and relax through your reps. Besides boosting your strength this action can relieve stress and anxiety.
Weight training requires strength, concentration, and visualization that helps regenerate brain cells, all while boosting your physical condition.
Walking health benefits
Yes, something as simple as walking can be a mind-body exercise if you are able to let go of negativity and worries and focus on visualizations as you walk. Walking, of course, is easy accessible no equipment requires. And it known for its health benefits.
So, if you’re already a walker add some soothing music that you find both inspiring and uplifting. As you walk focus in on the music and concentrate on your breathing and your stride. And if you’re out in nature enjoy and appreciate that too!
