Chapter 1: Bodymind


It is important to have an understanding of the historical division between body and mind. Perhaps more appropriately put, rather than division, the lack of acceptance of anything other than observable matter having any influence or connection with our physical body. There has clearly been (and in many areas still is) a denial, particularly in Western culture, of anything having influence over an individual's body that is not of an organic nature. Any connection between the physical body and the mind was nonexistent. As a matter of fact, the concept of the mind existing at all is relatively new in Western culture. So at this initial point we shall first discuss some of the qualities of both the physical body and the mind. We will then proceed to discuss the interconnectedness of both the body and the mind. Indeed, a basic premise of this program is the concept that mind, body and spirit are interconnected.

Physiological Framework

The physical body that each of us possess (or possesses us) is made up of roughly 50 trillion cells. About 30 billion of these are nerve cells. Every day millions of cells throughout our bodies are being replaced. This takes place through the normal process of attrition and replacement. Indeed 98% of our body is replaced within one year. The remaining cells are replaced the following year. In fact, 10% of all cells in your body are replaced every 3 weeks, 25% of the cells are replaced every 5-6 weeks. The cells that make up our skin is totally new every thirty days. The cells that make up the soft muscle tissue of our internal organs is replaced in two to three months. The liver is replaced within six weeks, while the stomach lining takes as little as four days. Some cells, such as those closely involved in the process of digestion, are replaced as rapidly as every five minutes!

The understanding of how rapidly the body re-creates itself is quite encouraging. In his book Quantum Healing Dr. Deepak Chopra uses the analogy of the body as a river. Just as the river is constantly flowing, full of varying speeds of movement, so do the replacement of cells in our bodies. We are not merely stagnant physical beings that age and ultimately die. We are, in contrast, being ever renewed. Understanding this means realizing that next year you be an entirely different person than you are now. No matter what you do in the next twelve months, at least on a cellular level, you will be an entirely different person.

The process that the human body uses to deliver nutrients is complexly simple. Complex, in that we could not fully describe the entire process within this book. Simple, in its basic components. We ingest food, air, water and sunlight. Our internal organs and glands break- down, process, derive and create the nutrients that our bodies require. Our blood then transports the needed nutrients to the appropriate part of the body. Part of the transportation provided by the blood includes both "delivery and pick-up". In other words the blood delivers the nutrients as well as other components, while also removing the discarded components of the physical body. When the nutrients are delivered throughout the body they are used to nurture existing and create replacement cells as needed.

Knowing that the cells in our bodies are constantly changing gives us the option of replacing the old cells with stronger, healthier ones. An athlete in training pushes their body to new limits. Their body responds by replacing old cells with new ones better adapted to meet the demands being placed upon them. To further assist their body in creating these cellular changes an athlete will pay close attention to the quality and quantities of nutrients they consume. The more appropriate the fuel, the more easily and rapidly the desired changes can occur.

This theory is fairly easy for most people to accept. Why then would they not expect their body to adapt to sitting at a desk or on a sofa and consuming "junk" food? It certainly makes sense that if the body adapts to one type of stimulus that bit will surely adapt to another. In either case the body is responding to physical elements, food and exercise (or lack of it).

As we pointed out, our physical body is the compilation and incredibly exact construction and interaction of roughly 50 trillion cells. However, the actual complexity of cells is not yet fully understood. We do know that all cells in the body have components shared by every other cell in the body. This common denominator is DNA. The DNA code was discovered in the early 1950's by Watson and Crick. Its discovery has attempted to explain many of the qualities that cells possess. The presence of DNA is now widely accepted as being the primary building block and keeper of our genetic code.

Recently there has been new exception taken to this now widely held belief. Researchers such as Dr. Bruce Lipton present the view that DNA couldn't possibly contain all of the characteristics and responsibilities that are attributed to it. Lipton presents the view that he cell has an intelligence and responds to its environment, creating whatever is needed in order for the cell to evolve and survive. The cell is actually communicating to some extent in response to its environment.

The contemporary British physicist David Bohm theorized the notion of unbroken wholeness. This is based upon a belief that all of reality is held in place by an invisible field that knows what is happening everywhere simultaneously. He described this with the analogy of a hologram. In this hologram each part, in some sense, contains the whole. If any part of a hologram is illuminated, the entire image will be reconstructed. In Bohm's view the real world is structured according to the same general principles, with the whole enfolded in each of its parts. Within each cell, each atom, each subatomic particle, within each thought, whim or desire is the potential for creation and manifestation in our real world. This theory, while somewhat accepted, has yet to be proven. Quantum theorists now tell us that where in the past it was generally held that matter was composed of atoms, we now see that atoms are composed of subatomic particles - which are fluctuations of energy and information in a void of energy and information.

To use the words of Sir Arthur Eddington, a British astronomer of the 19th century, "the stuff of the world is mind-stuff." The essential stuff of the universe, including your body, is non- stuff, but it isn't ordinary non-stuff. It is thinking non-stuff. It is the intelligence at the cellular level, the intelligence geneticists primarily locate inside DNA. Life unfolds as DNA imparts its coded intelligence to RNA (ribonucleic acid), which in turn imparts bits of intelligence to the cells and thousands of enzymes which then use their specific bit of intelligence to make proteins. At every point in this sequence, energy and information have to be exchanged or there could be no building life from lifeless matter. In this perspective it is the intelligence encoded within each cell that allows creation.

The exception and/or rejection of any of these theories cannot avoid recognizing a common thread, intelligence and communication within the cell.

While there are shared qualities of all cells there are also discernable differences between the types of cells within the body. The cells may all share the same DNA, yet they seem to place more emphasis on certain properties, while minimize others to perform as a specific type of cell. A cell that makes up the eye is different than one that makes up the heart. And yet if these cells are moved during the first six weeks of human development they can adapt to perform the function required of a cell in that environment. In other words, if a cell is removed from say the kidney, and replaced in the larynx, it becomes a fully functioning, identifiable larynx cell. As adults we maintain a relatively stable number of cells that make up our body. In spite of constant attrition, elimination and replacement, the overall number remains fairly constant. We are born with a certain number of cells. As these cells are replaced they may be of stronger, weaker, larger or smaller composition.

Some cells apparently may have a greater capacity for change, modification or alteration than others. One type of cell with this capacity for alteration is commonly referred to as a fat cell. There are many functions that can be performed by fat cells. Some include protection for internal organs, storage of fluid or nutrients, or insulation. There is a percentage or proportionate amount of fat that is necessary in the human body for healthy, efficient functioning. Percentage and distribution of these fat cells differs between men and women. Women have higher percentages of body fat. This is particularly in the abdominal area (to protect reproductive organs) and in the breasts, which are approximately 50% fat cells.

During our lifetime we experience changes in our growth patterns. We develop rapidly from an infant to an adolescent. By the time we have reached twenty-two years of age we have generally stopped growing in height. It is a commonly held belief that based upon our genetic background, diet and activity levels we will develop a particular body type (size, shape and proportion). These traits will typically resemble other members of our birth family. If being human were simply a mechanical process, then surely this would be the end of the equation. One has only to visit or observe any public gathering to notice exceptions to this simple formula. The exception is your thoughts. But do your thoughts originate in your brain or in your mind? Many individuals believe that your thoughts originate in your brain. In Western medicine we have and are studying the brain extensively. It is generally agreed upon that the brain is made up of two hemispheres; the right and the left.

The right hemisphere is believed to possess the more creative aspects of a person. Art, music, emotion and spatial perception. The left hemisphere is believed to be more orderly, controlling language, reason and morality.

The right hemisphere of the brain is believed to control the left side of the body, and the left hemisphere is believed to control the right side of the body. At least these are the beliefs held about individuals who are normally organized. Perhaps 20% or more individuals are believed to be reverse organized. Reverse organized meaning that the qualities believed to be attributed to the right and left hemispheres of the brain are reversed. Perhaps the most important word in any of these previous statements is believed.

Psychological Framework

We would like to now introduce you to the concept of mind. A non-physical, yet powerful determinant as to what you will see, what you will feel and what you will do. While the brain is physical, the mind is not.

Let us first make the distinction between the different aspects of the mind. The mind as we define it consists of three separate aspects: Conscious mind; Unconscious (subconscious) mind; Collective (group, higher-self) mind. For the purpose of this writing we shall address only the conscious and unconscious mind.

First, the conscious mind. This is the parental aspect of your mind. It is a type of gatekeeper. It can chose to allow information in, or to deny access. The things that you do are decided by your conscious mind. Or so it may appear. The conscious mind accepts or rejects information based upon whether or not it deems the information valuable or correct. If you are wearing an article of clothing that you believe you look particularly attractive in and receive a compliment on it, you tend to accept the compliment. If on the other hand you are wearing something that you don't particularly like or care for and receive a compliment, you are likely to dismiss it. You may even go a step further and dismiss the credibility of the person offering the compliment all together, including future comments. This is an important principle in the creation of self-concept. We will discuss this further in chapter two.

In either of these cases the conscious mind will pass the information along to the unconscious mind for storage. It one of the many tasks of the unconscious mind to store all memories. Dr. Tad James offers the following twenty tasks or charges of the unconscious mind:

Properties of the Unconscious Mind

1. Store memories

2. Domain of emotions

3. Organize all memories

4. Repress memories with unresolved negative emotion

5. Present memories for "rationalization"

6. Keep emotions repressed for protection

7. Run the body

8. Preserve the body

9. To be a highly moral being

10. To be a servant, to follow orders

11. Control and maintain all perceptions

12. Generate, store, distribute and transmit "energy"

13. Respond with instinct and habit

14. Needs repetition for long term projects

15. Programmed to continually seek more and more

16. Does not need parts to function

17. Symbolic

18. Takes everything personally

19. Works on the principle of least effort

20. Does not process negatives

As we begin to understand and accept these premises of the unconscious mind we become able to more effectively and efficiently assist an individual in realizing their desired changes. We can then assist them in releasing and / or modifying outdated beliefs. We can also guide them in constructing and implementing new useful ones. All beliefs that an individual holds are of benefit to them. As a therapist it is your responsibility to allow your client to view these beliefs in a non- judgmental way. As beliefs are uncovered the client then has the opportunity to eliminate, modify or reinforce them. This in turn is when change can begin to take place. Remember, beneath your conscious level of awareness you have all the resources necessary to change yourself. How you perceive yourself is either maintaining or creating changes in your body right now. By simply changing your perceptions - how you perceive yourself - you can change your body and your life. By now you have probably asked yourself either"Yeah, so tell me something I don't already know.", (we hope this is the case) or "Where do you come up with this stuff?". Whether you fall into either category we feel that it is important to reinforce these theories. You can gain greater understanding of both the physiological and psychological aspect by exploring further many of the books listed in the reference section at the end of this text. In spite of the still often controversial concepts addressed here there is an increasing body of research material being presented to offer explanation and support for these theories.

Bodymind

From the formerly held belief of separateness, we will now continue on to discuss the interconnectedness of the mind and body. Bodymind is a term that Dr. Candace Pert, director of the brain biochemistry division at the National Institute of Mental Health, has chosen to use to describe the interconnectedness of the mind and body. Dr. Pert writes that as a result of her research DNA appears to be almost as much sheer knowledge as it is matter. This once again offers further support of the presence of intelligence inherent in the cells. With this intelligence the cells communicate with one another. This was at one time thought to be electrical in nature. The more accepted theory now holds the opinion that a simultaneous chemical reaction takes place. However the emerging concept of an immeasurable presence, perhaps best defined as knowledge or intelligence simply occurs, allowing cells to communicate.

If you remember having had a dream or perhaps even a nightmare from which you awoke in a cold sweat, heart pounding, experiencing all of the physical symptoms of fear... as if running or hiding from someone or something frightening. Obviously, you were only dreaming. However, did your body respond to your experience of the dream any differently than it would have responded to your experience of a similar waking event? Your mind's ability to respond to the stimulus presented is phenomenal and nondiscriminatory.

Your unconscious mind is incapable of distinguishing any difference between a very complete accurate visualization and an actual event. In other words, the neurology of your body actually experiences -- has the same feeling, fires the same brain synapsis -- during a visualization process that it would if experiencing a physical event.

Another example of this is in a study that was undertaken in which three groups of young men played basketball. One of these groups played basketball three hours a day, the second did absolutely nothing to do with basketball and the third group visualized shooting baskets and playing basketball quite intensely. At the end of a number of weeks, they brought the groups back together and found that, in deed, the ones that had been practicing everyday excelled beyond the others. The group who had not played during the test period found their skills lacked considerably compared to either of the other two groups. However, the group who thought about playing basketball and visualized doing it, did virtually as well as those who had been practicing right along. This was not a random group of young men, these were men who had been playing basketball regularly and were athletes in that field.

Energy follows thought and thought follows energy.

In our existence as human beings, we are much more than physical bodies and mental processes. Mind and body are inseparable. A basic emotion can be described as a feeling or as a molecule of the hormone adrenaline.

"Without feeling the feeling there is no hormone; without the hormone there is no feeling. ...There is no pain without nerve signals that transmit pain; there is no relief from pain without endorphins that fit into the pain receptors to block those signals. Wherever thought goes, a chemical goes with it."

- Ageless Body, Timeless Mind Deepak Chopra, M.D. (1993) -

According to this model of quantum physics, the world in which we live is being constantly created and renewed through a flow of energy and information. The flow of energy and information is a "two-way street". The form that is manifest through the observation of energy and information is creative reality. Reality is what you perceive.

In Ageless Body, Timeless Mind Dr. Deepak Chopra points out that man is the only animal that has a concept of aging. Because we are aware of this aging taking place we tend to age more rapidly. As we are aware of our mortality we tend to expedite it. We are generally born with a body capable of exceeding 200 years of age! Indeed, people in Akasia currently live to be up to 165 years of age! This is in part due to their belief in longevity. Their society places a greater value on a long life. In contrast we in the West typically have a life expectancy of somewhere in our 70's. In either case people have a self-fulfilling prophecy. They live roughly as long as they believe is possible.

By the same token, we recover from any experience based upon the beliefs we hold about it. For example: how many times have you cut yourself and had it heal without a scar? Why is it then that some cuts or injuries result in scars? It is because of the belief held about the trauma resulting in scaring. If cells are being replaced in an on-going basis, how do they know to become "scar cells". Some people refer to this as a cellular memory. This theory presents the opinion that long after the injured cells have been replaced the memory of the injury continues to exist. It is due to the memory or belief held about the injury that continues to direct the new cells to continue to form in a confused or out of balance way resulting from the injury. When we use a technique such as Time Line TherapyTM to reevaluate and modify the beliefs held about an experience we often find that he physical component clears up as well.

Further research has shown that somewhere in our late twenties to early thirties we in the West start preparing to die. The pituitary gland, in response to these beliefs held, begins to limit or eliminate the production of certain hormones. Hormones that when present actually maintain an individual at a much younger biological age. The reduction of hormone production can be the start of a very long process, the process of aging, and ultimately, death.

There appears to be an ever increasing body of knowledge, including this book, that supports the successful reversing of the aging process. People who take an active part in pursuing and valuing their quality of life are often observed to possess a younger biological age and appearance. A wonderful aspect of these findings are that apparently an individual can adopt these techniques and beliefs at anytime in their life and begin to experience an apparent youthing process at any point in their life! Their seems to be a positive correlation between the practice of these beliefs and technologies and appearance, health and chronological life extension. All of these reports and observations seem to support the existence of bodymind.

There have been several books written on health, healing and recovery from illness by utilizing mental and physical interactions. There are a seemingly infinite number of self-help and psychology books. Nutrition, diet and exercise books are equally abundant. In the creation of The Body Contouring Programme™ we offering the first pro-active approach to assisting an individual in accessing and utilizing their individual power in creating significant lasting positive physiological as well as psychological changes.

After reviewing this brief explanation of our view and implementation of the mind-body connection, or bodymind, let us assure you, the reality of the physical changes desired by our clients is readily observable by all.

We hope you have enjoyed this chapter. For additional information, or to order books or CDs please click on our products page.