Editorial: Mindfulness, Mind-body Exercises, and Health Promotion

Guodong Zhang ^1* Yang Cao ² Zi Yan ³

• ¹ Southwest University, Chongqing, China
• ² Örebro University, Örebro, Örebro, Sweden
• ³ Merrimack College, North Andover, Massachusetts, United States

Physical activity provides numerous benefits for both physical and mental health, such as improving physical fitness, promoting cardiovascular health, and enhancing muscle strength (Qiu et al., 2023).In particular, mind-body exercises rooted in Eastern traditional cultures, such as Tai Chi, Qigong, and Yoga, have demonstrated unique advantages in promoting mental health and physical recovery (Deuel and Seeberger, 2020 ;Lin et al., 2019). These practices emphasize mind-body unity and seek to achieve balance through slow and deliberate movements, deep breathing, and meditation (Kung et al., 2024). Recent studies highlight the significant advantages of mind-body exercises on physiological health, mental well-being, and nervous system function (Dong et al., 2024 ;Loewenthal et al., 2023 ;Tao et al., 2019). Despite this growing body of evidence, the specific mechanisms through which these exercises influence physical and mental health recovery remain unclear. This research topic comprises a series of articles aimed at elucidating the health benefits of mind-body exercises from the perspectives of psychological benefits, physiological effects, and emerging technologies, in order to provide a more comprehensive assessment of their impact and potential. The topic explores the health-promoting effects and mechanisms of mind-body exercises from three perspectives: psychological benefits, physiological effects, and technological approaches.Seven studies emphasize the psychological benefits of mind-body exercises. Three cross-sectional studies, employing large-sample mediation models, confirmed the role of mind-body exercises in promoting mental health (Tang et al., 2023 ;Wu et al., 2024 ;Zhang et al., 2023). Wu et al. (2024) found that practicing Tai Chi had a more pronounced impact on the mental health of elderly individuals living alone compared to Baduanjin and walking exercises, with social participation and exercise environment serving as mediating and moderating roles. Tang et al. (2023) discovered that mindfulness practice could improve state-trait anxiety and stress resilience in athletes prone to choking, with resilience and perceived stress acting as mediators. Zhang et al.(2023) found that selfcompassion predicted greater emotional recovery following failure in athletes, with vagal nerve response mediating this effect.Additionally, four studies focused on the psychological health benefits of yoga. Malipeddi et al. (2024) found that practicing Isha Yoga 3-4 times per week during the COVID-19 pandemic significantly reduced stress and mental distress while improving overall well-being. Chhajer and Dagar. (2024) highlighted the dual benefits of yoga, noting that yoga training not only improved participants' thriving and overall health but also significantly alleviated psychological issues such as stress and anxiety. Nadholta et al. (2023) further confirmed that practicing yoga during pregnancy alleviated symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression, while also reducing physical discomfort, fostering mind-body balance, and enhancing mother-infant relationships. Lastly, Yang et al. (2023) conducted a meta-analysis that validated the effectiveness of mindfulness-based yoga in treating depression.These seven studies contribute significantly to the growing body of evidence supporting the mental health benefits of mind-body exercises and offer a robust theoretical foundation for refining and advancing methodologies in this field.One of the challenges in this field is expanding the scope of research on the physiological impacts of mind-body exercises to explore a greater diversity of health outcomes. Six studies underscore the physiological benefits of mind-body exercises. Wang et al.(2024) found that eight weeks of Tai Chi practice enhanced bed rest time, total sleep duration, and stage 2 of non-rapid eye movement sleep in elderly individuals. Van de Winckel et al.(2023) reported that Qigong practice had positive effects on the rehabilitation and quality of life of patients with spinal cord injuries, including pain reduction, improved sleep, and greater emotional stability. Thakur et al.(2023) discovered that meditation practice increased telomerase activity and telomere length while lowering cortisol levels and improving mental health, suggesting its potential as a biomarker for combating human aging. Bartenschlager and Jansen, (2023) found that meditation reduced defensive responses to deathrelated stimuli, improved emotional regulation, lowered stress and anxiety, and enhanced overall well-being.In addition, two studies emphasized the dual benefits of mind-body exercises for both physiological and psychological health. Solk et al. (2023) found that integrating mindfulness meditation with