By Hakeem Alexander

(Exercising Your Mind) This is a very basic and general overview and introduction.
Physio- natural physical functions [from Greek phusis nature]
Meditate exercise the mind in (esp. but not always religious) contemplation. [Latin meditari contemplate]
I have coined and defined the term PhysioMeditation to be:
“exercising the mind and body through natural physical and mental functions”

PhysioMeditationSM. is an integrative practice that utilizes the breathing techniques and static poses of Yoga, the active movements of Mat-Pilates, the dynamic exercises of Capoeira and other combat skills. Many other basic calisthenics such as push-ups, squats, abdominal crunches and jumping-jacks are used. Physiomeditation has been developed by me over many years of dedicated research and study of these methods through active participation and teaching to a variety of persons living many different lifestyles.

in addition to the contributions of Capoeira, Pilates and Yoga, I have also blended my professional experience and education as a Clinical Hypnotherapist, Private Fitness Trainer, Group Exercise Instructor and Metaphysician to create a most holistic and complete program of this unique new discipline. It is at the same time a Martial-Art as much as a Healing-Art. This is in perfect alignment with my goal to formulate my own singular system of Healthy-Living and Self-Defense.

Physiomeditation is the next step forward for the HypnoAthletics foundations of exercise physiology: Alignment, Breathing, Concentration; or the ABC’s. See the article Healthy Living and Self-Defense Foundations of Exercise Physiology: Alignment Breathing Concentration at the link below for more information.
https://eym.hypnoathletics.com/2008/04/23/healthy-living-and-selfdefense-foundations-of-exercise-physiology-alignment-breathing-concentration.aspx

Physiomeditation is a complement to, overlaps in many ways and is an integration of my previous innovations of traditional practices including: HypnoAthletics: Exercising Your Mind, Dream Action Yoga(DAY): Exposing the Conditioned Personality, KappaGuerra: The Only War to Wage is Within and Contrology Oriented Mat-Pilates(COMP). My private research organization HypnoAthletics is daily engaged in Independent Research and Strategic Consultation concerning Healthy-Living and Self-Defense.

Methods and Techniques
Physiomeditation simply combines Pranayama, or the Yoga of Breath with the poses, movements and exercises of Yoga, Pilates and Capoeira for a seamless integration of healing and strengthening movement with meditation. Being that the human body generally moves in certain ways according to the laws of physics there are obvious similarities. However, as it is not an attempt to be these practices, it is not limited to the specific structures of the ancient disciplines of Yoga and Capoeira or the traditional movements of Pilates. Physiomeditation is open to the incorporation of all safe and effective body movement, breathing and mental meditations that may be smoothly united for maximum benefit and optimum performance.

Through a coordinated progression of breathing, musculoskeletal and central nervous system activation, Physiomeditation can empower you with motivation, self-improvement, healthy physical fitness, and if you so desire, spiritual unfoldment. You may fully integrate the physical, energetic, mental, intuitive and spiritual realms of existence and learn to be not only an archive of wisdom in a healthy body, but a weapon of self-defense if you choose. One aspect of the Physiomeditation philosophy is focused on changing your frame of mind from “How do I do this movement?” to “When and why would I do this movement?”.

The practice of PhysioMeditation consists of intelligently linking your breathing with a fluid transition of poses and movements that may be static, active or dynamic. Many times this is simply a matter of how fast a transition is executed. Other methods take time-honored calisthenics and mediate them with more fluid gestures. Usually, the warm-up phase will last five(5) to fifteen(15) minutes and consist of Pranayama breathing, static poses, or moderate active movements like Yoga and Pilates techniques, depending on the fitness level and conditioning of the person engaging in the workout. Dynamic movement from Capoeira and other such forms may follow this static and active phase but not necessarily and not for everyone.

Once again, the innovation of Physiomeditation does not lie in its specific techniques. There are no new movements because as I have mentioned, our human bodies are governed by the laws of physics. Many of the movements are the same as or similar to the traditional and tested applications of its parent disciplines. The philosophy or perspective of Physiomeditation is where it stands apart. I see the movement of the body to be taken through all ranges of motion from static, active and dynamic as a progressive system of total body movement rather than separate specialties to be practiced in isolation. A practitioner has the empirical understanding from application that many movements are all quite the same with the difference being when and why it is used which determines whether the movement is static, active, dynamic or some combination of these. With the complete set of skills, a practitioner has the option of moving through these phases if they would like to and are physically able but will not be limited because of a lack of understanding.

Many analogies are used to give visual understanding to some of the exercises. One breathing method is explained using a tube of toothpaste for a visual model. Imagine rolling a toothpaste tube up from the bottom to shorten it as a compensation for there being less paste from previous use. You can also roll the tube to expel the paste for use by decreasing the space and creating pressure. In the same way, when you bend over to touch your toes or are executing an abdominal crunch, you would exhale because there is less space. The breath being like the paste that comes out of the spout, your mouth and/or nose, and your body being the tube rolling up. Naturally this exhaling relieves the pressure inside your lungs, diaphragm and other internal organs.

Another movement can be visualized using a spring or a Slinky toy. Imagine a Slinky or spring descending a flight of stairs. Its coils stack themselves one at a time upon itself and it does so in a very even series of smooth motions. In the same way, a person standing up from a forward bend would imagine their vertebrae this way, moving them one at a time, stacking upon each other as they lift up smoothly into a standing position.

This has been a brief introduction to the multifaceted practice and experience of the emerging new discipline of Physiomeditation that I am offering. It has been so far an empowering healing journey for myself and many hundreds of people I have shared it with over more than fifteen(15) years of its development. To learn more or to experience it for yourself contact me for the location of my next session or for a private consultation. I would be grateful and joyful for the opportunity to share it with you as an individual or your organization to enhance your Healthy-Living and Self-Defense interests and goals.