Mind–Body Interventions

Abstract

Mind–body interventions (MBIs) have become increasingly popular. In the current article, we examine the potential role of MBIs for improving health and promoting wellness. We first describe typologies of MBIs and prevalence of their use. We also examine the efficacy evidence about how MBIs offer many psychological and physiological benefits, including reductions in disease symptoms and improvements in coping, behavior regulations, quality of life, and well-being. We further discuss how the health education discipline has long supported the inherent holism of the human being, the importance of healing potential of the mind on one’s health, and values capacity for self-regulation and describe the potential opportunities for health educators as it relates to MBIs. Finally, we discuss implications for the profession of health education and promotion.