The scientific power of thought. Muscles can be built simply by imagination. No joke.

[snagglepuss]

The hard science of the power of the imagination.

http://www.wimp.com/thoughtpower/?fb_action_ids=10200353286785242&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366/

[Auntie Bush]

1. So does this help explain why prayer or healing tends to work for those who are spiritual believers?

[snagglepuss]

3. That is a great question. Perhaps it depends on whether the prayers are focused

on the illness or the positive outcome?

[2naSalit]

9. On the positive outcome...

I have a friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer, she and some friends got together and held regular "sessions" and in about six weeks, the cancer was gone. I've heard other stories much like this from all belief systems, it is possible, have to be able to focus and live as though it's already happened. Everything is energy, focus of energy can make anything possible as thought is also energy. And that's what anyone who has done this will tell you.

[tama]

7. Hmm

This is more about power of self-healing, but external influences such as you describe can function as catalysts and initiate and/or aid the process - especially if you are conscious of getting such help and don't object to it.

[Kalidurga]

2. That is amazing.

So, could they make that part of physical therapy at some point? Have a therapist prepare patients who aren't quite ready for physical therapy get ready for it by guided imagination exercises?

[Incitatus]

4. I'd like to see these studies he claims to prove this

and if they are peer-reviewed. I'll search later when I'm at my desktop.

[tama]

5. It's been well known for long time

For example, top athletes use lot of mental training, especially visualizing perfect activity. And muscles, balance, body coordination etc. get trained during mental visualization quite similarly as in physical training.

Eastern martial arts have been doing this for ages. This aspect is especially emphasized in Yi Quan.

Thanks for posting, nice to see hard science catching on.

[enough]

6. As Williams James said, one learns to ice skate in summer, and to

swim in winter.

I'd be more impressed with the "muscular" part of this study if it had focused on something other than the fingers, which in our current part of human evolution are more obviously tied to the mind than any other group of muscles.

Interesting. Thanks for posting.

[Auntie Bush]

8. That explains why skaters and skiers visualize their routines and the turns on the downhill etc.

visualize their routines and the turns on the downhill etc. They are actually practicing!