Symbiosis of mental and physical fitness

The symbiosis of mental and physical fitness – meaning, definition, and connection. The coronavirus pandemic and current global crisis reports have taught us that physical fitness isn't the only factor in a healthy life. The importance of mental and psychological fitness has been gaining increasing attention in recent years. And rightly so! It's high time we took a holistic approach to our health. This means considering and practicing factors such as sleep hygiene, resilience , mindfulness , and general mental health , in addition to physical activity and a healthy diet .

Definition of physical and mental fitness

Physical fitness refers to the current state of physical performance in the areas of strength, endurance, speed, flexibility and coordination.

Mental fitness, on the other hand, includes various aspects such as quick comprehension, good concentration skills, a long attention span and, more generally, the performance of the brain.

Now that the basics have been clarified, the question remains as to the extent to which physical and mental fitness influence or condition each other.

It's obvious that poor physical health also has a negative impact on one's mental health. If one is experiencing pain or a certain physical limitation, one is usually not in the best mood, but rather tends to be depressed or irritable.

On the other hand, psychological problems can also result in negative physical conditions, because body and mind are closely linked.

For example, if burnout persists over a longer period of time, there is a risk of adrenal insufficiency. This is caused by excessive production of the stress hormone cortisol, which is produced in the adrenal cortex.

This example demonstrates that a person's mental state can have a direct impact on their physical health and performance. This is another reason why we at brainboost place particular emphasis on strengthening mental fitness and also pay more attention to preventative measures in this area.

For example, within the context of neurofeedback , we use specific training protocols aimed at promoting relaxation to enhance this important mental resource. The active electrode is placed at the Pz (parietal – central) position, and the activity of the slow alpha frequencies is either trained down with the eyes open or trained up with the eyes closed.

When the mind is relaxed, this also has immediate positive effects on the body, such as less muscle tension, better sleep, a stronger immune system, and many other benefits.

Have you ever experienced how your mental state directly affects your physical fitness, or how your physical state affects your mental fitness?

Psychosomatic illnesses affect more people than previously thought. Read our next article to delve deeper into this topic: Psychosomatic Illnesses: Between Mind and Body