This study explores how physical work performed in conjunction with the human body was expressed in the mind, and specifically, how opening the body’s physical structures manifested in an opening of a practitioner’s values, perspectives, and beliefs with and without additional philosophical guidance. The study asked: (1) Does opening the body’s physical/energetic structures affect/go-with opening of structures of consciousness? (2) Are transformative openings the result of working with the body, with the mind, or both? (3) Does one’s belief system/worldview predict or affect the changes in consciousness realized from a body-based transformative practice? (4) Does fragmented body-based practice affect consciousness differently than whole-body body-based practice? (5) Does “what comes up” during a body-based practice mentally and/or emotionally relate with the theorized qualities (i.e., anger, love) based on body regions, according to Eastern or Western thought?

1. MIND RESULTS DUE TO BODY PRACTICES? MASTERS THESIS: CONSCIOUS EVOLUTION, FEBRUARY 2009 By Alex and Beth Iglecia Investigating the contributions of the body and mind during body-based transformative practices to the process of non-physical human development

2. Punchline(s) Yoga works Movement is more than movement When you stretch your body, you stretch values, beliefs and worldviews Mind openings go with body openings

3. body body What does movement actually have to do with body-based transformative practices ? mind body mind mind body mind ? values beliefs worldviews

4. Does opening the body’s physical/energetic structures affect/go-with opening of structures of consciousness? Are transformative openings the result of working with the body, with the mind, or both? Does one’s belief system/worldview predict or affect the changes in consciousness realized from a body-based transformative practice? Does “what comes up” during a body-based practice mentally and/or emotionally relate with the theorized qualities (i.e., anger, love) based on body regions, according to Eastern or Western thought? Does fragmented body-based practice affect consciousness differently than whole-body body-based practice?

6. Movement & Transformative Practices Body & Mind Paradigms and Theories Transformation & Conscious Evolution

7. Intention Attention Repetition Guidance Chakras Nadis Prana 5 Elements Human Development Stages & Mutations Values, Beliefs, Worldviews Meridians Organ Systems Chi Energy 5 Phases Transformation & Conscious Evolution Eastern: Indian Ayurveda Eastern: Traditional Chinese Medicine Movement & Transformative Practices Clear relationship to Body Regions Unclear relationship to Body Regions

9. 12-Day Program: Design 1-3: Hips 4-6: Spine/Heart 7-9: Shoulders/Throat 10-12: Whole Body

11. Results Just a little bit of data…

12. Results: Q1 (quickview)

13. Results: Q2 (quickview)

14. Results: Q3 (quickview)

15. Results: Q4 (quickview)

16. Results: Q5 (quickview)

18. Results: Q1: Energetics

19. Results: Q1: Gebser View

20. Results: Q1: Spiral Dynamics View

21. Are transformative openings the result of working with the body, with the mind, or both? Yes, the study suggests: Openings happen with body work alone Openings increase with guidance 2

22. Results: Q2 : What is an Opening? Interpretation What it Means Indication: Level 1 - Strong Indication Indication: Level 2 - Weak Indication Closing Cultivated / realized lesser embracing/experience of values towards self/other Deciding to withdraw in some form No reaction An absence of any noticable change or learning They state they felt/experienced nothing No movement, shift, or possibility of a shift is present Opening A movement or shift terms of values, structures of consciousness, major insight or realization about their life, forgiveness, compassion, love, etc Major learning or realization. Insight; a new connection or new capacity of feeling, thinking or being Deepening of awareness of anything other than the body by itself

23. Results: Q2 : Openings

24. Results: Q2 : Emotions

25. Does one’s belief system/worldview predict or affect the changes in consciousness realized from a body-based transformative practice? The study suggests: Previous knowledge and experience do not predict nor affect new transformation In-the-moment guidance facilitates transformation 3

26. Results: Q3 : Openings Demographic Questionnaire Survey 1 Ratios and Sums: Opening Score & Predictive Scores Practice Study Opening Score 11 20 Belief-as-Preparation for TP, Sum 37 23 Ratio: Open / BAP-TP Score 0.30 0.87 Gebser Predictive Score, Sum 65 52 Ratio: Open / GBP 0.17 0.38 Spiral Dynamics Predictive Score, Sum 268 280 Ratio: Open / SDP 0.04 0.07

27. Results: Q3 : Openings Linear Regression R^2 Values Open : BAP-TP GBP SDP BAP-TP:GBP BAP-TP:SDP GBP: SDP BAP-TP:GBP BAP-TP:SDP GBP: SDP Practice 0.277 0.011 0.442 0.429 0.591 0.087 0.906 0.818 0.734 Study 0.035 0.130 0.040 0.014 0.518 0.171 0.807 0.861 0.957

28. Does fragmented body-based practice affect consciousness differently than whole-body body-based practice? The study does not provide a solid conclusion, but suggests revised thinking : How can we truly isolate when it comes to the body or the body-mind? Simply because we focus our attention may not mean we necessarily fragment… 4

29. Results: Q4 : Fragmented vs Whole Body

30. Does “what comes up” during a body-based practice mentally and/or emotionally relate with the theorized qualities (i.e., anger, love) based on body regions, according to Eastern or Western thought? The study suggests that either: The theories do not clearly predict emotional content and experience… The body-emotion relationship is more complex than the study was able to examine… 5 or

31. Results: Q5 : Terms and Categories 12 Days x 16 People x 4 Responses per day = 768 Responses

32. Results: Q5 : Terms and Categories

33. Results: Q5 : Body Regions & Emotions / Chakra

34. Results: Q5 : Body Regions & Emotions / TCM

36. Conclusion and Discussion results due to typical mind-body practices are not solely the result of body work transformation is unpredictable and does not depend on how much knowledge or previous experience you have movement and body openings alone do produce openings in the mind

37. Fitness Industry Mind-Body Industry Teachers Practitioners Medical Community More research Refinement of Transformative Practices Who Can Benefit? WHO ELSE?

38. Final Takeaway If all your work is focused on the body, you will likely facilitate and support some growth in consciousness, i.e., you will become a better person for it. To take conscious control of your life and set yourself up for greater personal growth in the direction of your choice as well as in unexpected and unpredictable ways, both body and mind practices should be integrated in the practice itself .

39. Contact Articles, Discussion, Classes, Workshops & Presentations Alex & Beth Iglecia 781-405-1248 [email_address]