JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
Completing mission after mission can be stressful for a lot of military members. The military mission requires not only physical readiness and training, but also mental – an aspect that can be more challenge for service members to train on their own.
That’s where the Lumena MindGym comes in.
The MindGym is a 7-by-7-foot cube offering over 30 different protocols that utilize the combined power of isolation, reflection, light and sound to create an immersive environment to help users master their mind.
“What we’re doing inside of the MindGym is mental skills training inside of a big immersive chamber,” said Brandon Murphy, chief revenue officer for Lumena. “We can help people regulate their fight or flight response to stress - how to recognize when you’re in a fight or flight response, how to mitigate it, and then how to be on top of your performance.”
Andrews is home to the sole MindGym in the National Capital Region and is available for use by all service members.
Each protocol lasts between 15-20 minutes and is designed to put the user in a restful state using choreographed low sensory light and ambient sounds. Using floor-to-ceiling mirrors, the MindGym projects images onto the walls to immerse the user in a tangible environment. The sessions track the individual's ability to transition their mental states using relaxation techniques, inner-exploration and contemplative practices.
One of the relaxation techniques is focused attention meditation which involves directing the user’s attention to a specific point and using breathing patterns to cultivate mindfulness and concentration. This helps the user develop a heightened awareness to be present in the moment.
Airman 1st Class Maria Alejandra Choque-Salinas, a universal business office technician assigned to the Andrews Medical Group, spoke about how the breathing training helped her. “The guided breathing helped reduce my stress by slowing down my breathing and helping me clear my mind,” she said.
Anyone with base access looking to improve their mental resilience through visual focus training, meditation, sensory deprivation, and neurofeedback can use the MindGym located in the Tactical Fitness Center.
Murphy said it best, “At the end of the day, we’re all humans, and we all have stressful jobs, we all could be a little bit more mentally fit.”