We live in the Anthropocene (Paul J Crutzen). Homo sapiens has had such a significant impact on Earth and its inhabitants, including ourselves, that in many fields it is not possible anymore to distinguish between the observer and the object of the experiment. The Platonian-Cartesian model of body-mind dualism, the cornerstone of European culture, is in crisis. In many environments, the mind is no longer a ghost driving the machine of the body (Descartes), but the interaction between the two spheres is becoming so relevant to force the development of holistic approaches, even for studying topics that were always considered independent. Like the aetiology of musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders.

MSK disorders are becoming increasingly common among the younger population. Even adolescents can sometimes present symptomatology that was once typical of elders, and the relation to emotional states seems unavoidable. The society of Technique in which we live has forced most of us to assume a lifestyle in which movement is less and less adopted and psychological burdens can become unbearable. These conditions are especially present in university students, who are living a period of life that defines the transition from childhood to adulthood, where addressing stress management indirectly affects the learning process. In order to guarantee the well-being of our students, it is paramount to help them manage the relation between body and mind.

Unfortunately, in Europe we lack this philosophical background. Our culture is dominated by body-mind dualism, in which the two spheres hardly communicate. Moreover, it is usually given to the body the value of a “burden” that impedes the mind to reach a higher level of consciousness. On the contrary, in most Eastern philosophies, either Hinduism, Buddhism, or Taoism we can see the presence of a third sphere linking material and mental realities: breathing. In those cultures, breathing plays a major role not only as a practical tool but also as an epistemological premise.

Accordingly, several Eastern disciplines like Tai Chi, QiGong, Mindfulness, Samatha, and Vipassana meditation, among others, are increasingly used in clinical trials to teach subjects how to breathe and relax. In fact, deep abdominal breathing is a very important step in the relaxation procedure. It can reduce co-contraction, increase proprioception and awareness, and help manage emotions which, in turn, can further help in the reduction of co-contraction. The inability to relax can lead to a state of constant tension and related psychological and physical problems. The fact that such a link is missing in Western culture might be one of the reasons why breathing control seems difficult to many young subjects.

Recently, our study confirmed such a trend. With the use of optoelectronic plethysmography, we were able to quantify the percentage of breathing compartments used by our students. Only 30% of the acquisitions showed proper use of abdominal breathing. These data were related to body stability and the state of anxiety of our students, defining a triangular link between body and mind with the mediation of breathing. Students showing difficulties in performing deep abdominal breathing, or favouring the use of the higher pulmonary compartment, were also presenting elevated anxiety scores and decreased stability. This depicts a circular self-sustaining relationship that may reduce the quality of life, undermine learning, and contribute to muscular co-contraction and the development of musculoskeletal disorders.

To make the description of this relation even more complex, male and female subjects behave differently. Not only do women seem to present more difficulties in the performance of abdominal breathing, but the very links relating breathing, stability, and anxiety were mathematically different. The reason for such a difference between genders is not clear, and we cannot exclude biological or social causes, like the acceptance of a beauty canon that does not promote abdominal breathing in women.

The study of such triangular relations requires cross-disciplinary approaches where different disciplines can meet and study the interaction among them. Working in a cross-disciplinary environment is challenging. The organization of the work can be difficult, starting from the development of a common language that can allow communication, and it is important to learn how to deal proactively with misunderstandings. Nonetheless, the union of different areas of knowledge is knowledge itself. Great global challenges require cross-disciplinary spaces for hard science, humanities, and culture to meet and develop solutions for great global problems. The planetary wellbeing initiative is considering the loop of changes made by humans to our lifestyle, which in turn affect human health. That is why planetary and human health are linked and inseparable. But in order to understand this link we cannot look at the human condition only technically and medically. We must promote studies that explore, emotional, philosophical, and artistical expression of human life.

While fighting for planetary wellbeing we must not forget to turn our sight inward and learn more about the link that connects our lifestyle to planetary health and change it, before it changes us.