Our MINDS can Change our Bodies, but can our Bodies CHANGE our Minds?

I stumbled upon a very inspiring and informative video from TED.com from well-known american social psychologist Amy Cuddy. Her research is known to focus on stereotyping and discrimination, emotions, power, nonverbal behavior, and the effects of social stimuli on hormone levels. While her research has focused mostly on stereotypes and social interaction, in this talk the thesis is geared on how the body can change the mind, and how postures can change our hormone levels which directly affect our moods and how, we ultimately, act. It discusses  how our bodies can govern our minds and at times vice-versa.

Power posing holds the key to how our bodies can change our minds.

Jiu-Jitsu is no different. We believe that the Gracie Barra system is focused on changing the mind through our bodies. Have you noticed a change in your mood immediately after your first session? Make an inventory of how you were before training, versus how you feel now.  Have you been feeling lighter, happier and less stressed? It is because your bodies respond to the posture and movements of the drills. Our bodies have NOW responded to our postures learned in training. The confidence that we get out of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is all because our mind has responded to the work our bodies have received! Our minds respond to the elated feeling of winning a sparring match, or being able to submit our opponents. Without saying, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu provides avenues for our bodies to exercise winning. Exercising power is good for us.

Amy Cuddy’s suggests we exercise the power pose for a couple of minutes a day. In this way, our minds will eventually respond to the changes our bodies have made. It will soon align itself for a better, more confident you!