You hear a lot of talk about mind-body connection lately, as if it's something new. But up until the 17th century, every health system on the planet considered the mind and body as one.  Now, as we re-recognize the power of that connection, we discover just how much our physical, mental and emotional health can benefit by developing these skills.

For empaths, the benefit is even greater. Here are just a few examples of how a strong mind-body connection can be a real asset for empaths:

• improve your interoception (read the signals your internal systems convey to you about your environment)
• shift / lift your emotional state even when bombarded by negative energy
• ability to regulate your heart rate during times of stress (which calms your fight/flight system)
• greater control of sleep (decrease those hours we often lay awake at night!)

You may have a strong mind-body connection in some areas, but be disconnected or resistant in other areas. This self-assessment can show you where you might want to develop your skills:  "What's Your Mind-Body Connection Type?"

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MIND-BODY EMPATH EXERCISE

We all know what it feels like to be energized – that surge of power that makes us believe we can do anything. We also all know the feeling of being weak and exhausted, with no or low energy.

As empaths, we often feel so influenced by the energy around us, we don't realize that our own mind-body connection holds more power than any external source and that we can develop our control of it.  Try it out with this fun mind-body power-up exercise.Pretend you are a rag doll. Although you can stand up straight, your joints feel wobbly and your limbs feel weak. Really put yourself in that low-energy mindset. Once you start to feel it, walk to the end of the room.  Notice how your muscles and joints feel; what it's like to walk on weak, wobbly limbs, lacking any strength or energy.  Wobbly walk back to the starting position.

Next, take two deep breaths, clearing your mind and body of the energy from the last few minutes. Now imagine you are the fastest, strongest person on the planet. You can feel a force running through your body – it's power ready to burst out of you. Conjuring up all of that energy, walk swiftly and forcefully across the room. Power walk back to the starting position.

With practice, this simple exercise can help you learn how to tap into your energy production centers – not just when you're pretending, but when you really do feel like a rag doll. It's an especially helpful activity for kids who often feel zapped due to boredom or anxiety.

You'll find more mind-body skills activities in these workbooks.

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