Integrative Fitness: Mind-Body Medicine

There’s lots of talk about maximizing mental and physical fitness by “making the body-mind connection.  Mental, physical and emotional self-care practices are all part of what is known as integrative fitness. It is the movement towards a holistic-centered approach to health, fitness and wellness with the primary objective of treating whole person not just a pattern of symptoms.  The principle philosophy of Intergrative fitness is that each person represents a unique, complex, and interwoven set of influences that affect the inherent functionality of that individual. Thus, each of these influences must be addressed to achieve wellness. Integrative fitness is a great path to the achievement of optimal holistic wellness. Fitness is no longer limited to the physical part of our beings; rather, the physical elements must become fully integrated with the mental and emotional elements if we are to function properly.  While seeking get to most out of life, the route we habitually take attrition sets in on the body. Eventually, the things you once enjoyed become harder to do. Envision a different path, where everything that matters to you is aligned and in simetre.

Be the Best Version of You

Movement educated and Foundational Movement Skills

To be movement educated means using your body the way it is designed to function, and appropriately adapting to your environment. IFT is a GPS for understanding basic movement skills that are introductory to all types of physical activity. The IFT exercise progressions are specifically designed for the “gym inside the body” so that fitness travels with you.

Body Self-Awareness

Usually, while we are not paying attention, the body is frequently adapting to the environment all around us. The body is wired to find an easy way to do things. It goes along with most of what we subject it to. When we fall into bad habits, the body doesn’t always realize it immediately. But when we repeat that mistake over and over, the body eventually lets us know through pain and performance plateaus. Practicing IFT develops an awareness of habits and the body’s responses, whether that is toward desired results, or away (which allows for correction).

The Integrative Fitness Technique

A. Assessment

Because each person experiences their body differently. First, you want to develop an understanding how and why you move the way you do. Once we figure out the strategies that have become your habits, we can evaluate how effective these are at serving your needs and goals. That way the adjustments we strive for are appropriate and focused. Our path of action considers the many factors that influence your time, energy, and internal resources. We ask: “What opportunities, guidance, and efforts would best help you achieve the results you want and need?” Our recommendations may include a combination of our integrative programs, efforts at home and work, and/or coordination with other health professionals.

B. Habits, Tools, and the Three Body Systems

Over time our bodies compensate for problems—that is, develop habits that exert wear and tear—which limits our ability to do the things we want or need to do, in the way we’d like to do them. Once you understand how the body compensates, and you become adept at using the tools inside of you, you’ll redirect how your body functions and develops. The moving body engages a large network of nerves, muscles, bones, and fascia to make three essential body systems work cooperatively. The Integrative Fitness Method shows you how to use these three systems correctly.

C. Foundational Movement Patterns

D. Higher Level Movement Skills

 E. Staying Engaged and Active