Yonemoto Physical Therapy

In a recent lecture at UC Riverside, a professor spoke about his research at Harvard University focusing on the expectations of teachers for their students. A group of students were given IQ tests and the researchers told the teachers this was a special test to determine which students would be the top performers in the class. A random sampling of students of various IQ scores were named, and the teachers were told these would be the top students. At that point, the teachers all treated these students as if they were the top performers and, based on these expectations, all those students did turn out to be the top performers in the classes. It was quite controversial research at the time, as it gave validity to environmental factors influencing performance and not simply genetic qualities. Since then, many other research papers have validated the same findings.

This professor also mentioned other research showing expectations of doctors and judges influenced the outcome of patients and jury judgments as well. Non-verbal behaviors and the expectations of the researchers influence the behavior of laboratory animals. Not only can words affect others, but also your actions and thoughts may have an influence.

In Chinese medicine, particularly qigong  which is an ancient practice of exercise to enhance health and longevity, it is believed that the message system influences disease in about 70% of the cases, suggesting a strong mind-body connection to health.

You can probably think of many more examples of how expectations can influence outcomes: 
• what your parents expect from you
• what your boss expects from you
• how your kids feel about you
• what a teacher thinks you’ll be able to do
• what you expect when you go to a place known for exceptional service

Just think what the possibilities could be:
• when you expect your body to serve you well
• when you expect your kids will turn out all right
• when you expect your life will be filled with happiness
• when you expect others to be honest and to do the right thing

For the young at heart, life remains exciting and full of expectation and unlimited possibilities. Life becomes a blank sheet of paper with all of creation possible. One experiences feelings of growth and expansion while shooting for the stars.  What a feeling!  Here’s to expecting great and wonderful things to happen in your life. Who knows – maybe if enough of us expect peace in the world, it will happen.

If you have any questions, please submit them to:
Sheila Yonemoto, P.T.
Yonemoto Physical Therapy
55 S. Raymond Ave., Suite 100
Alhambra, CA 91801
PHONE:  626 576 0591
FAX: 626 576 5890

Links:
http://www.yonemoto.com/ - Yonemoto Physical Therapy home page
http://www.yonemoto.com/programs/IMT.htm - Integrative Manual Therapy, a Hands-On Approach
http://www.yonemoto.com/programs/qigong.htm - Qigong to boost the immune system

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