what is mind-body medicine? 

Mind-body medicine harnesses the innate power of your body-brain-mind and the positive human qualities of kindness, awareness, interconnection, and compassion to help heal conditions such as chronic stress, anxiety, depression, panic and insomnia. Mind-body medicine can also help to mitigate the intensity of chronic pain and other uncomfortable ailments.

This science-based integrative medicine approach trains your physiology to dial down the body’s stress and inflammatory responses (as a function of the sympathetic nervous system) and dial up the body’s innate healing capabilities (via the evocation of the parasympathetic nervous system).

By learning to rewire your own nervous system (via neuroplasticity) and positively reimagine perspectives in your life, true healing and transformation can emerge.

Eastern medical systems are rooted in the concept that the mind + body are not separable. However, during the Renaissance and Enlightenment eras in the Western world, the notion that the mind and body are separate entities took hold and began to inform medical practices. Unfortunately, contemporary conventional Western medicine still works under the premise that the mind and body are separate.

Mind-body medicine utilizes ancient training techniques such as mindfulness meditation, yoga movement (asana), breath work (including pranayama), and compassion practices, which directly affect the mind and the physical and energetic bodies.

Studies have shown that some of the benefits of learning and practicing mindfulness and compassion include: lowering stress hormone and inflammation levels, decreasing blood pressure, and boosting your immune system. Mindfulness meditation has also been shown to lessen physical pain, depression, anxiety, ADHD, and age-related cognitive decline.

Other examples of mind-body medicine practices include other (non-mindfulness) forms of meditation, EFT tapping, tai chi, qi gong, progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback, EMDR, and guided imagery. 

Dr. Shah employs mind-body and contemplative psychotherapeutic practices that are non-secular but based in Buddhism, Hindusim + Taoism. These practices combine mindfulness meditation, compassion-based practices, yoga (asana), breath practices (including pranayama), and energetic exercises.

Dr. Shah will teach you powerful tools that you can use right now as well as take home, practice, and develop over time.