How Mindfulness and Movement Together Can Improve Your Wellbeing

In this article I wanted to share with you some insights about how the exercise of mindfulness can be connected with movement to produce amazing results. However, before we delve into the details I think that it is important for us to ensure that we are all talking about the same thing. 

Typically envisioned as a quiet, sedentary practice, mindfulness is celebrated for its ability to anchor us in the ‘here and now’ — a mental haven from the chaos of everyday life. Yet, there is a dynamic dimension to mindfulness that goes beyond stillness, involving a dance of movement that rejuvenates both body and mind. If you want to learn more about mindfulness you can access our main mindfulness page or even explore our Ultimate Guide to Mindfulness for Beginners.

While mindfulness is part of what we do at the DeRose Method it is far from the only thing we do here. Our techniques have an affinity and connection that has lasted for over 5000 years and they complement each other to produce amazingly powerful effects in record time. In this article I want to explore how mindfulness and movement can come together and how one can enhance the other and allow you to experience so much more and to enrich your well-being on multiple levels.

Why should you care? Because the body is often the loudest distractor with its discomforts and limitations, demanding attention that detracts from mental focus. By nurturing the body — ensuring it is healthy, strong, and flexible — we diminish these distractions, allowing for deeper and more effective mindfulness. This integration is key not just for enhancing personal performance but for infusing everyday life with a profound sense of vitality and joy.

Join me as we delve into how uniting mindfulness with movement can transform routine into ritual and strain into strength, reshaping your well-being with every conscious breath and deliberate motion.

The Role of the Physical Body in Mindfulness

Some philosophies hold the theory that the body is just a vessel for carrying the mind. They neglect to care for the body and as an obvious result, longevity and wellbeing are compromised. In the DeRose Method we view the body as an integral element to allow you to achieve mindfulness, meditation and higher states of consciousness. 

What is worse, these philosophies that ignore the body create an additional barrier to their own success, for the physical body is arguably the loudest source of distractions — if you are uncomfortable, if you experience any aches or discomfort, concentration will forever allude you.

Our view is that we need not only to look after our bodies, but to go beyond and aim to transform our bodies into sculptures of flesh and bone. This creates a strong foundation for all mental work: mindfulness, meditation and beyond. This integration is crucial because a healthy, strong, flexible and energised body eliminates discomfort and the distractions stemming from the physical body, allowing for quicker, deeper and more effective mindfulness. The complete practice of the techniques of the DeRose Method go even beyond, improving physical well-being, heightening mental clarity and emotional resilience.

The Pitfalls of Unilateral Development

One of the most interesting fallacies of this area is that people seem to think that if they want to learn mindfulness they need to do this technique alone. However, if you are familiar with the history and context of this technique – if you are not I recommend that you read our article, “What is mindfulness” – you will know that it arose as part of a greater practice, with many other techniques. When these techniques are executed together, they enhance each other and improve the results. 

The renowned Hindu author Shivánanda, wrote in his autobiography about doing mindfulness or meditation alone: “I do not encourage lop-sided development,”  which can lead to imbalances that ultimately hinder personal growth. This wisdom is echoed in the teachings of the DeRose Method, which stresses the importance of balanced development across all dimensions of the self.

Imagine dedicating time only to develop mental focus through static meditation while neglecting the body’s needs for movement and strength, or vice versa. This can be likened to a sportsman who only exercises one arm, neglecting other parts of his body — resulting in a disproportionate physique that could actually impair overall functionality. Similarly, focusing exclusively on physical training without developing mental and emotional faculties can lead to a disjointed sense of self, where physical abilities are not in harmony with psychological and emotional states.

In the DeRose Method, we avoid such pitfalls by ensuring that our practices cover a spectrum of techniques that foster physical strength, mental clarity, and emotional balance in equal measure. In the practices where we train mindfulness we also teach our students other techniques such as movement, breathing and assimilation. This approach not only promotes a more robust form of mindfulness but also ensures that personal development is comprehensive, leaving no aspect of the self underdeveloped. By engaging in a balanced practice that equally values all dimensions of being, practitioners can achieve a harmonious and sustainable form of growth that enriches their entire life.

Healthier Body, Healthier Mind

The intricate link between physical health and mental clarity is foundational to the DeRose Method. A healthier body does not merely enhance our ability to perform physical tasks; it amplifies our mental capacities. As we have seen above, we understand that a strong, flexible, and energetic body is not just a vessel for the mind but its active collaborator, fostering a state of concentration that enriches experiences across all facets of life.

The Physical Foundation for Mental Excellence

Mental tasks, whether they involve complex problem-solving or the simple act of mindfulness, are profoundly influenced by the body’s condition. Physical discomfort or stiffness can distract even the most disciplined mind, interrupting the flow of concentration necessary for effective mindfulness practice. Conversely, when the body feels vigorous and limber, the mind is free to focus more deeply and achieve states of awareness that might otherwise be unreachable.

The DeRose Method teaches techniques that sculpt the body into a state of peak physical health — through movements that enhance flexibility, exercises that build strength, and postures that improve posture and vitality. Each of these elements contributes to reducing the physical distractions that can impede mental focus, allowing practitioners to delve deeper into their mindfulness practice with greater ease and persistence.

Synergy of Movement and Mindfulness

Integrating movement with mindfulness creates a synergy where each element enhances the other. Just as a dancer experiences a heightened state of awareness while in motion, DeRose Method practitioners experience a similar elevation during their practices. This is not about engaging in mindless physical exertion but about performing each movement with acute awareness and intention, making every gesture a mindful act.

The benefits of this integrated approach are manifold:

• Enhanced Focus: With the body engaged in deliberate, mindful motion, the mind learns to maintain focus for longer periods, enhancing both mental and physical stamina.
• Stress Reduction: Physical activity, especially when combined with mindful techniques, is a potent stress reliever. It channels and dissipates the physiological responses to stress, calming both body and mind.
• Emotional Regulation: A healthier body supports a more stable emotional state. The discipline of regular physical and mindful practice helps to temper emotional reactions, fostering a more balanced psychological outlook.

Empowering Personal Transformation

Ultimately, the goal of combining mindfulness with movement is to empower personal transformation. A healthier body supports a healthier mind, creating a feedback loop where each aspect of well-being supports and amplifies the other. This holistic development is at the heart of the DeRose Method, which aims not only to teach techniques but to transform lives.

In the DeRose Method, we do not just practise mindfulness; we live it, integrating it seamlessly into every action, every moment of the day. This integrated approach ensures that practitioners not only achieve a temporary state of well-being but cultivate a lifelong enrichment that permeates every aspect of their existence.