2. “When we forget who we are we lose touch with
the truth of our lives, the goodness of
heart, and the beauty of existence. As we grow
in consciousness, we return to the center of our
being and become one with everything. Our
deepest nature reveals itself in a luminous
embrace. Then we know with certainty the
essence of life and the unity of existence.
Distress and suffering dissolve. We are healed.
We are whole. We are one” Elliott S.
Dacher, 2011.

3. * Benefits of Mental Fitness
* Demonstrated the healing qualities of mental
and spiritual focus
* Examples of exercises, activities, or practices
which can improve mental fitness
* Step by step instructions and explanations
important to the development of mental
fitness
* Researched studies
* Conclusion

4. * Mental Fitness, what is it?
* What type of benefits can be achieved through
the practice of mental fitness?
* What types of exercise practices can help
reach different levels of consciousness?
* What is conscious growth and development?
* What is Human Flourishing?

5. * A journey of self-transformation through
mental fitness exercise
* The ability to journey from external to internal
or outer to inner with
meditation, prayer, breathing techniques or
quiet and still minds
* Development of spiritual being or
psychospiritual being
* Development of psychological aspects of the
mind to gain wellness, mind/body healing, and
consciousness and health

6. * Reduces negative emotions such as
anger, hate, fear, uncertainty, anxiety and
depression
* Increases loving-kindness, calm-abiding and
unity consciousness
* Reduces risk of sickness, illness and or diseases
* Freedom from mental distress
* Holistic and evolutionary growth in well-being
of the mind, body and spirit
* Helps human flourishing to occur

7. * Meditation
* Prayer
* Quietness and Stillness
* Breathing Techniques
* Yoga, Tai Chi
* Visual & Guided Imagery
* Mindfulness

8. * Close your eyes and take a few slow deep breaths
* With each in flow and out flow of your breath allow
yourself to become more relaxed, more
comfortable, more peaceful
* As you drift into a deep state of relaxation image you are
transported to a beautiful serene natural environment
* The air is warm and fragrant with the aroma of sweet
tropical flowers
* The sky is deep blue with only a rare blurry cloud lazily
floating by
* The sun bathes you in its comforting warm light
Chopra, D. (2009, Apr 21). Wild divine. Retrieved on February 4, 2012 from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D56tUOdpgts Guided imagery continued

9. Guided imagery continued
* The sounds of exotic bird songs and the whisper of soft
breeze through the trees offer a soothing auditory
background
* Nature is lush, extravagant, abundant, exotic, sensual
* In this beautiful place imagine yourself laying on a
blanket on a soft grassy mound feel the sense of
connection, sense of comfort to all of nature allowing
all the nurturing sounds, sensation, sights and smells
to give you a sense of deep comfort
* You are returning from the womb of creations
* Enjoy this experience by being embraced and nurtured
by Mother Nature
Chopra, D. (2009, Apr 21). Wild divine. Retrieved on February 4, 2012
from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D56tUOdpgts Guided imagery continued

10. Guided imagery continued
* This is where you came from
* When you are ready come back to this space and
time
* Carry your feeling of comfort and relaxation
wherever you go
* Carry the whole universe with you, wherever you go
* Nature is all around you
* Enjoy this experiences while embracing Mother
Nature
Chopra, D. (2009, Apr 21). Wild divine. Retrieved on February 4, 2012 from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D56tUOdpgts Guided imagery continued

11. Guided imagery continued
* Bring your self-back and take this experience with
you
* Visit here and each time stay longer so that you
will get the full benefit of relaxation.
* Bring the whole universe with you wherever you go
Chopra, D. (2009, Apr 21). Wild divine. Retrieved on February 4, 2012 from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D56tUOdpgts Guided imagery continued

12. * Holistic –the inner/outer & personal/shared experiences
* Evolutionary –growth in profound, accurate &
comprehensive knowledge of self & life
* Intentional –the mental ability to consciously choose & act
* Person-Centered –is based on the moment, age, life
circumstance, level of development, capacities & so forth
* Dynamic –“considering the circumstances of each day and
act accordingly” (Dacher, 2006). Staying the course, shift
direction or emphasis when necessary

13. * Robert Alder early 1970’s (1st Study)
* Elmer & Alyce Green early 1970’s (2nd Study)
* Candace Pert early 1970’s (3rd Study)

14. Dr. Alder Professor of Psychosocial Medicine at
University of Rochester and early researching in this
field conducted “typical behavioral conditioning
experiment” using rats. They were fed saccharine
sweetened water mixed with Cytoxan which is a nausea
producing drug. The rats learned very quickly to
associate the sweetened water with nausea caused by
the drug. Once the drug was removed the rats
continued having symptoms concluding that the rats
had a “mentally learned response” and “that it was all
in the rats mind”. The nausea was simply triggered by
the taste of the sweetened water (Dacher, 2006).
continued

15. The major find of Dr. Alder was the fact that the drug
“Cytoxan is an anticancer drug designed to suppress the
immune system” and that the rats learned to reproduce
the suppression of the immune systems (Dacher, 2006).
The implications of the rats being mentally capable of
altering the immune systems led to the conclusion that
humans through consciousness could “self-regulate this
important guardian of their bodies” (Dacher, 2006).
This was an astounding study leading to other
developments within the mind/body connection
(Dacher, 2006).
studies continued

16. Elmer and Alyce Green discovery of how the mind
can affect many physiological functions of the
body by the use of mental imagery. Training the
mind with the help of biofeedback
machinery, they discovered how the mind can
“voluntarily control blood
pressure, pulse, muscular tension, skin
temperature, bowel motility” and other activities
(Dacher, 2006).
They findings of how mental image, thought or
awareness translates into “physical experience”
lead to other questions.
studies continued

17. Questions like how the mind can affect the
mobile immune system when it is not “Hard-
wired” connected to the automatic physiologic
mechanism or the central nervous system
(Dacher, 2006).
The missing link was filled in by a Professor at
Georgetown University in the early 70’s named
Candace Pert.
studies continued

18. Candace Pert discovered a series of natural body
proteins called neuropeptides which “circulate
constantly through the body carrying messages back
and forth” (Dacher, 2006).
A third mind/body communication system joining the
automatic physiologic mechanisms and the central
nervous system but different due to being mobile.
The neuropeptides are made by cells, act on other
cells as well as the entire system. “The brain talks to
the immune system, the heart to the kidneys, the
glands to each of the cells within the body and so
on, creating in the process a fully interconnected
community” (Dacher, 2006).
studies continued

19. Later Professor Pert and others found that
“thoughts, feelings and visual images (mind stuff)
produce specific neuropeptides that alter physiology”
(Dacher, 2006).
This portion of the study was important due to the
fact “if we could control dissipate and transform
negative emotions occurring in the mind” it would be
possible to “reverse their deleterious effect”
(Dacher, 2006).
Diving deeper the thought was the mind could be
transformed through inner development in a positive
direction of health, happiness and wholeness which
would make the “body smile” (Dacher, 2006).

20. The conclusion and facts of this presentation
represents the direr need for mental fitness.
Practicing meditation, guided or visual
imagery, prayer, breathing techniques or simply
quieting the mind from mental chatter or clutter in
order to have good mental and physical health.
This is the only way to rid the mind of relentless
disturbances and the only way to remain free of
premature illness or disease.
“For true flourishing of the body, mind and spirit, we
must go to the root of our mind/body ailments and
permanently heal them at the source”
(Dacher, 2006).
This can only be done through inner or
psychospiritual development.

21. Chopra, D. (2009, Apr 21). Wild divine. Retrieved on February
4, 2012 from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D56tUOdpgts
Dacher, E. (2011). Aware, awake, alive: A contemporary guide
to the ancient science of integral health and human
flourishing. St Paul, MN: Paragon House.