unit 7

Here we are at unit 7 wow has it flown by.  My meditative practices for this week have been pretty amazing.  I really am beginning to almost crave my time to listen to the MP3's.  I always go into my room and relax with the fake fireplace roaring.  The only thing on my mind is to get to that place of complete relaxation.  Meeting Aesculapius or mindfulness meditation is very calming and relaxing to me.  I am not really fond of the mans voice in the beginning but I find the woman's voice calming.  I also enjoy hearing the waves and letting her guide me in all my thoughts.  I think that is easier for me than trying to concentrate on my own.  Being mindful of others along with myself in my actions, and words has let me take a step back and realize that we all have our own battles and no one persons issues are more important that the others.  I feel that I am becoming a little more spiritual everyday and I am very proud of this.  My attitude towards life is in general better (it was never horrible) or at least improved.  I find myself thinking "is this really important" and pretty much let it go.  I plan on keeping these mp3's in my itunes library and using them frequently.  When I get better at these I will find some more mp3's and try them out also.  It is also really nice to listen to all of these in order as I do my exercise ball and some yoga.  It's a nice long workout actually.

I believe the phrase "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself" (p.477) means practice what you preach really.  If you are trying to help someone and don't practice the things you are teaching then I think there would be a lack of connection with the client.  I believe you wouldn't understand and couldn't guide the client if you didn't practice some form . I also think when the client asked questions you wouldn't be able to answer them honestly and there might be a lack of trust between client and   practitioner.

I plan on continuing my current practice and not give up due to the "no time"  I know this is my biggest battle, but I am determined to improve my life as a whole.  Mind-Body-Soul.

Looking forward to this weeks comments.

Rachel

Unit 6

Hi everyone, This weeks exercises were two that were at first hard for me to do, but I have done then everyday for 4 days straight and found that I really am finding a sense of inner peace when I do them both.  I prefer the second exercise I'm not really sure why but maybe because it goes a little deeper.  I start with the mini practice and repeat it in my head over and over.  I was able to get to around 5 minutes and I did feel more at peace after I did the exercise.  Then I did the integral assessment which at first was definitely more difficult (I love a good challenge) .  I asked myself which part of my life is causing me the most stress and when I answered I then was able to let it go and feel so much more at ease.  I still have moments of worry but I feel much better and not so upset with the situation.  I know which area I need to grow in but I am still trying to focus of my area of concern.  I have started a journal and have been seeking guidance from a very trusted person in my life.  I decided to focus on the first approach for a couple of weeks because I have a specific area of concern that is deeply personal so I choose not to talk about it on the blog.(I'm fine and so is my family and we have no illness) and hopefully I will transition into the second exercise with ease.

For exercises, physically I will continue to run outside hopefully weather permitting, and use my big rubber ball for stretching and yoga.  I want to continue doing all the exercises that we have learned thus far because I find them very beneficial for my well-being.  I have increased my time to meditate in the morning and added it at night also.  Lastly I started a journal last week and that has been a very big help along with the guidance of a close friend. 

Hope to hear from everyone soon, Happy blogging:)

Rachel

unit 5

Hi Everyone,  This weeks exercise asks us to compare and contrast the loving kindness mp3 and the subtle mind.  I found that listening to the loving kindness for the second time I liked it much better. It still was a little more difficult than the subtle mind mp3 and I'm not so sure why.   I personally enjoyed listening to the subtle mind more because it focused on breath.  I also enjoyed the fine music heard over the waves in the subtle mind mp3 and I liked that it explained that it was okay if my mind wandered, but when it did to refocus on breath.  I started to think of a string pulling my belly up as I inhaled and slowing releasing it as I exhaled.  I used diaphragmatic breathing which is one of my favorite ways to relax and still my mind. 

I now have these mp3 saved in my I tunes account and know that if I listen to them more and more I will learn to use them in meditation.  Allowing my mind to get away and not to focus on anything at all.. to complete mind silence...

The body responds differently to different emotions.  The chemicals in our bodies change with the emotions we feel.  When we feel happy and hopeful and less stress the body is in a relaxed state the chemistry of our bodies change and allow healing to occur and it will also prevent chronic problems to start.  If our bodies are out of balance and feel stressed or out of control different chemical reactions occur in our body that cause stress on our vital organs which wears the body down making it less resistant to getting sick and developing chronic health problems. 

Spirituality is integrity, hope, love, faith.  It is the daily practice of love based attitudes that are used in a person's everyday life.  It needs to lived actively, it is generosity, caring, sharing for those in need.  Without spirituality we become empty inside and the need for more and more material things will continue to be the way to keep the emptiness we feel inside at bay.  A temporary fix to say the least. 

I didn't realize how spiritual I was until I started learning about what it really meant.  I guess I always thought it was religion based.  I know now that it is having love based attitudes.  I think that it is a vital part of living a full and complete life.

I really enjoyed the website that I used for this blog.  I would recommend anyone who reads my blog to read the article written  By Mary Kurus

Thanks everyone,
Rachel

http://www.mkprojects.com/fa_PEMHealth.htm

Unit 4

Hi everyone, welcome to my unit 4 blog.  My thoughts on listening to the MP3's this week are I think that the man explaining the importance of integral health is good and made me want to learn a more on the benefits.  I really enjoy the science of how are mind, soul and bodies are connected.  All the chemicals and hormones being released and what they do to us.  So cool to me:).  The second MP3 was just a little challenging for me. I really liked the relaxation part and it was soothing, but when it was just the music and waves I found myself thinking about other things.  I must need someone to guide me:) 

I believe that the concept of a mental workout is that it keeps us grounded and on a positive path to feel a sense of inner peace, calmness, and will help us take that leap into a state of well being we never thought was possible.  Dacher (2006).  The benefits of mental fitness are limitless it is understood now that good or bad our mental state determines the physiology of our body.  The power of the mind is limitless so we have to continue to train our minds to be able to get to that next level of human flourishing.  Lastly, our consciousness not only shapes our personal experiences, it also impacts the people around us.  Dacher (2006)

I think that this class has reaffirmed what I have believed all along.  I sometimes would not take time out for myself in the past and I did not have or feel a state of homeostasis.  Since I have started taking some classes here at Kaplan, it just proved to me that what I was doing wasn't out of the ordinary it was what worked for me.  I feel so much more at peace with my life just letting go of the little stresses that come with everyday.  I think my mental workouts are essential for my health and well being.  I have just recently started doing some meditation at night right before I go to sleep and boy do I fall asleep fast and sleep like a rock.  Sometimes I don't even get to finish my relaxation:)  Not to worry I have done some meditation in the morning before I wake up for a long time now:)

I look forward to having some good blogging with you my fellow classmates:)

Reference;

Dacher, E.S. (2006). Integral Health: The Path to Human Flourishing. Retrieved from Eisevier Churchill Livingston Publications