One of the most important health tools we all have at our disposal is often under-exercised: our imagination. There is scientific proof that positive visualization can help us to eat better, feel more relaxed, and get us moving!

A study conducted at Bishop’s University in Quebec has proven that just imagining yourself exercising can actually increase the strength of your muscles. No, it wasn’t as as effective as real action, but it was a good motivator and is an impressive example of how the mind can be used to affect concrete positive change. In the area of nutrition, a study carried out at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh proved that imagining yourself repeatedly eating a certain food will lead to consuming less of it once you’re presented with it. The key here lies in the principle of habituation – when you’re repeatedly exposed to a stimulus (food), you want less of it. And, when it comes to stress, most of us are aware that meditation and visualization can lower heart rate, reduce blood pressure and increase feelings of well-being.

How does visualization work? During visualization electrical impulses sent by the brain physically influence the body. Your imagination has a huge impact on how you view yourself and how you behave as a result. However, much like the skeletal muscles, the brain is also a muscle that needs to be exercised. As John Murray, a sports-performance psychologist in Palm Beach, Florida  explains “Imagery is the rehearsal of reality. There’s no magic involved.”

Here are a five tips to help you use visualization to improve your health: (more…)