Unit 8

Hello everyone! The end is near!!  This class has gone by fast, the ones I enjoy always seem to.  This week we were to review the practice sessions and choose two were thought were the most beneficial to us.  I chose Loving Kindness and visualization.  I enjoy the visualization/meditation. I like to do them at the end of the day to kind cleanse myself of the stress. I enjoy the universal loving kindness or the loving kindness in the morning. I feel it starts me off in a positive frame of mind. Those two exercises always leave me feeling warm, fuzzy and happy.  I am looking forward to exploring other types of meditation exercises. I think I will stick with the guided version for now, because my mind tends to wander a bit if I don’t have something to focus me.

Unit 7 - Meeting Aesclepius

The exercise this week was very relaxing, I loved the sound of the waves. Unfortunately I was not able to do it everyday.  The flute or pipes, whatever they were, were slightly annoying but over all it was enjoyable.  The person I used was my 92 year old grandmother. She is an inspiration! Focusing on her for this exercise made me feel closer to her.  I am trying to get a more solid schedule in place for meditating, but cannot decide if morning or evening is better. 

I agree with the statement, "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself".  You can guide or point someone in a direction, but you cannot take them there or overcome obstacles if you are not familiar or experienced it yourself.  I would rather take advice from a professional who has actually done the exercise themselves and be able to share experiences.  Also, how can you help someone who is having problems, if you have not been there with the same or similar problems.  I have implemented a spiritual yoga program into my schedule and have found it helpful, my boyfriends sister made the video. It is nice to have the teacher available for questions! 

Have a wonderful week everyone!!

Unit 6

Hope everyone had a wonderful week! Mine was good, no more moving boxes....whoo hoo!  Now just have to finish the unpacking, it never ends!

I really liked the universal Loving Kindness exercise.  I found it very relaxing and felt wonderful at the end of the 10 minutes. This is something everyone needs to do! One of the other classmates discribe her results when she did this standing in a line and how it lowered her stress and made the time fly by.  I can totally see me using this exercise in the same manner.

The area I have chosen to focus on is my weight.  I know my weight is starting to affect my entire health.  I am not hugely over weight losing 60 pounds would make a huge difference in my health. It is time to get serious about this issue.  I joined Sparkpeople a year and a half ago and have never gotten serious with it. In my last session we had to use that program or one like it to track what we ate for a week.  I was appalled at how high areas I had never thought about where.  I am taking advantage of just having moved and my cabinets are already cleaned out, to change my eating habits.  I no longer have cable TV and plan on using the Wii fit everyday. Not only will my body feel better, but I believe it will also help with the stress. Feeling better will lead to better sleep and less stress.

Have a great week all!!

Just because....=)

power point for unit 5

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7MKZl0RPS0BQkVSck5uMm80TjQ/edit

Unit 5 Subtle mind

Hello all!! This week we are supposed to "Compare and contrast the Loving Kindness exercise and the Subtle mind exercise. Explain your experience including the benefits, frustrations etc." I am going to have a hard time doing this, because I was not able to get into the exercise this week at all and could not even make it through the first few minutes.  I moved this past week, had a huge rummage on Saturday, and am trying to get my rental house cleaned up by this Wednesday. Combine that with work, not being able to even find the toothpaste ( had to go buy a tube!!) and you will understand why I am totally unable to relax! It has been hectic week.

The second part of the assignment was to, "Discuss the connection of the spiritual wellness to mental and physical wellness. Explain how the connection is manifested in your personal life."  I am a walking example of this right now.  If one is off balance the rest will become off balance.  My mental health has been severely challenged this week. As a result from all the mental stress, I am not sleeping well which will lead to getting headaches. Of course the stress causes me to feel like I can't get anything done in a timely manner.  I am hoping that getting boxes unpacked this weekend will greatly reduce my stress, which in turn I will get better sleep and this will help be feel better and have a more positive attitude!