Unit 8

I found the relaxation and the visualization exercises more beneficial than the others. I found I was more calm and at peace. When I am stressed or anxious at times, I know I can implement this exercise into my life to foster my mental fitness.

When I do my daily exercise regiment, it helps me be more relaxed throughout my day.  I am less irritable and more at ease, less negative and happier with myself.  The visualization exercise helped me visualize what I wanted to do or how I will accomplish my goals.  For example I am working towards my 5k run in April.  I can visualize my run, place, time distance and can see a greater outcome by visualizing things first before committing which gives me encouragement, confidence and desire to accomplish my goal if I put my mind to it.

 

Unit 7 Blog

The Aesclepius practice was long. I visualized Jesus Christ to be my wise person because he is my only wise person and Savior.  It was hard to visualize a white light from the crown entering into my mind. The meditation did help my biological well-being. The experience this time has helped me psychologically by reducing the mental chatter, the untamed mind, leading me to witnessing my mind by being in the present moment constantly, thereby giving me calmness.  Calmness has kept me from being as stressed and that is something I will continue to practice the Sublte mind so stress will not cause any more illness in my body.

The saying (p.477), "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself" to me is like the saying, if we have not had the experience that we are trying to teach our clients, how can we effectively teach them? No matter what profession that we are in, if we do not have the knowledge and experience, then we are not qualified to help our clients. I have an obligation to develop my total health and well-being so that I can be a model or even a mentor that will go much further in helping my client, by focusing on their needs rather than my own and helps me to actively show loving-kindness in a professional way.

 

Consciousness & Healing: Integral Approaches to Mind-Body Medicine. Schiltz, M., Amorok, T., and Micozzi, M. S. (2005). Elsevier, Inc.: St. Louis, Missouri.

Unit 6 Blog

The first part of the exercise was a little easy. It was a little difficult giving loving kindness to strangers. I realized that we all need the same things which is love,  protection and integrity from this perspective I was able to wish this for the world. This is an area that will need more work and practice. By making myself more available to others and listening more empathetically I think I can develop this practice. During the integral assessment, I realized I need to focus more on the interpersonal aspect.  During my quiet time, I need to practice to quiet my mind cause I find it bouncing all over the place.  I believe this would be a focus of growth and development for me as it would allow me to identify my true self being and helping others. I believe this is where true integral health comes in as it would make me feel quite happy to know that I can give to others and at the same time receive the same benefit in return.

Specific exercises would be regular, physical activity and mental activity. Physical activity such as hiking, running, swimming, martial arts etc help to stimulate the body as it delivers nutrients and oxygen to the tissues of one’s body. It also aids in the circulatory process by “circulating blood through the heart and blood vessels” (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2009).” Daily mental activity such as the mind exercise which involves yoga, meditation, prayer and fasting also helps the psycho spiritual and biological aspect of one’s life, that is, the mind/body/spirit experience. These types of exercises would help to prevent high blood pressure and other diseases of the body such as cancer, heart disease and so on (Dacher, 2006). All these exercise activities essentially increase one’s equilibrium and metabolism thereby boosting one’s health and wellness. In order to more toward a more sustained health, happiness, and wholeness, I need to continuously practice meditative exercises because I feel stress level with school and household holds me back from reaching these three aspects in my life. 

Reference

Dacher, E. S. (2006). Integral Health: The path to human flourishing. Laguna Beach: CA, Basic Heath Publication Inc.

Mayo Clinic Staff, (2009). Fitness. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/exercise/HQ01676

Compare and contrast the Loving Kindness exercise and the Subtle mind exercise. Explain your experience including the benefits, frustrations etc.

The first part of the exercise was pretty smooth and easy.  I enjoyed the ocean waves and the narrators voice. It did make me calm and peaceful.  I was able to transfer some feelings from loved ones and my own.  This is an area that we all need to work and practice on.  I think if we develop this practice each week, we can listen more empathetically and make ourselves more available to others. The subtle mind is an exercise to let go of thought as is passes through the mind. The subtle mind exercise took a little practice. I had trouble focusing on my own thoughts as I was constantly thinking.  I was able to see how easily random thoughts could distract. It was hard to tame my busy mind. I found that the subtle mind was a little more challenging than loving-kindness. It took more effort to maintain my focus; this could possibly due to the prolonged period of time before the narrator returns to give more instructions

Discuss the connection of the spiritual wellness to mental and physical
wellness. Explain how the connection is manifested in your personal life.

For me spiritual wellness holds everything in place together.  The connection of spiritual wellness to mental and physical wellness is vital for an individual if he or she is to experience human flourishing. It is important for one to maintain a spiritual connection to the higher power – God, through meditation and prayer. In doing this it does not only help the individual spiritual connection that gives the individual a deeper sense of his or her spiritual awareness but it also helps the mental and physical aspect of the individual’s life.  In my personal life, when I have the spiritual connection, it allows me experience peace, joy, calmness, love, forgiveness, and being kind and patient with others even if they are not.