The idea of 'Mind-over-Matter' has been with the human since the beginning, and would have practiced on the savannah plains of Africa. There is evidence of its use in India since about 5,000 years ago and in Greece since about 2,500 years ago.

 

There was renewed interest in the Mind-Body theory just after the First Industrial Revolution in the late 19th century. Humans seemed to have conquered the mind of the machine, and they looked inward yet again to explore their own minds. Celebrity culture drove the interest and many prominent individuals publicly associated with gurus and teachers who seemed to provide exercise both for their bodies and their minds.

 

Mr Joseph Pilates popularised his methods and he was the living embodiment of his own success as he transformed from a sickly child to a confident adult with muscle flexibility, physical strength and mental stamina. 

 

Similarly, Margaret Morris used dance therapy to exercise both body and mind. It is widely accepted by orthodox and alternative practitioners that the connection between the mind and body is a strong one, and that the treatment of one often affects the other. 

 

In the climate of today, and amidst the many environmental crisis and uncertainties, there is a renewed need for the human to revisit their inner self yet again. Mind-Body interventions are likely to continue to flourish.