Review the exercises and practice sessions you have completed in this course.
(Loving Kindness, Subtle mind, Visualization, meditation etc.) Choose two
practices that you have determined to be most beneficial. How can you implement
these practices in your personal life to foster “mental fitness”?
After completing the exercises in this course, I believet hat the two which are most beneficial are the loving kindness and meditation exercises. The loving kindness is such a great reminder of how we should treat one another and how being loving and kind can contribute to our overall health and wellness.
Meditation is something that I have not done on a regular basis, but I really enjoyed meditating throughout this course. It is such a relaxing technique, and it is exactly what many of us need in the midst of our busy lives.
I really hope to continue to practice exercises that we have done throughout this course. I need to make it a priority and implement it into my life on a regular basis.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Week 7 Blog
This course and the many meditation practices and exercises have made me realize what an incredible impact meditation can have on our psychospiritual, biological, and spiritual wellness. Meditation specifically can increase spiritual wellness because of the focus on the mind and how the mind can affect the physical body. It was a little hard for me to understand how meditation could help in any aspect of life because it didn't seem to benefit the physical body at all. However, after completing meditation practices, it is clear that they can clear the mind and bring peace to one's spirit, which positively affects all areas of life.
I am going to really try to continue to practice meditation and especially yoga on a regular basis. Yoga offers the physical exercise as well as a meditation aspect, which can result in optimal, overall wellness.
"One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself" means that a person should have experience in an area where they are teaching and/or leading another. As a health and wellness professional, I do have an obligation to "practice what I preach" by developing each aspect of my health - psychological, physical, and spiritual. I need to be an example for those I am leading, and to lead by example, I must have experience. Therefore, I will continue to develop my psychological, spiritual and physical health.
I am going to really try to continue to practice meditation and especially yoga on a regular basis. Yoga offers the physical exercise as well as a meditation aspect, which can result in optimal, overall wellness.
"One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself" means that a person should have experience in an area where they are teaching and/or leading another. As a health and wellness professional, I do have an obligation to "practice what I preach" by developing each aspect of my health - psychological, physical, and spiritual. I need to be an example for those I am leading, and to lead by example, I must have experience. Therefore, I will continue to develop my psychological, spiritual and physical health.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Exercise and Assessment Process
The exercise and assement process entailed saying positive statements to myself over and over again about others; specifically how I can help others. This exercise made me discover that I can and should do more for others. Instead of just praying for others, I need to make more of an effort to actually do things for them. I have chosen this area to be a focus of growth and development for me as I now realize that doing for others needs to be a priority for me.
Some specific activities I can do to foster greater wellness in this area is to make sure to meditate daily, continue to pray for others, and make a concious effort to help others regularly.
The exercise and assement process entailed saying positive statements to myself over and over again about others; specifically how I can help others. This exercise made me discover that I can and should do more for others. Instead of just praying for others, I need to make more of an effort to actually do things for them. I have chosen this area to be a focus of growth and development for me as I now realize that doing for others needs to be a priority for me.
Some specific activities I can do to foster greater wellness in this area is to make sure to meditate daily, continue to pray for others, and make a concious effort to help others regularly.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Week 5
Loving Kindness vs. Subtle Mind
I enjoyed both of these exercises very much. The loving kindness exercise seemed to focus more on the importance of being kind to others and ourselves while the subtle mind exercise focused on completely clearing the mind. I could relate a little more to the loving kindness exercise because I am not very good at completely clearing my mind or focusing on breathing. However, I do know the importance of breathing exercises and of clearing the mind, especially when we have so much going on in daily life.
There is huge connection between spiritual/mental wellness and physical wellness. As we have discovered in the recent weeks, there have been many research studies conducted that show how the mind/body connection can contribute to overall health and healing when a person is ill. We need to all remember this connection and the importance of maintaining spiritual and mental health with physical health.
I enjoyed both of these exercises very much. The loving kindness exercise seemed to focus more on the importance of being kind to others and ourselves while the subtle mind exercise focused on completely clearing the mind. I could relate a little more to the loving kindness exercise because I am not very good at completely clearing my mind or focusing on breathing. However, I do know the importance of breathing exercises and of clearing the mind, especially when we have so much going on in daily life.
There is huge connection between spiritual/mental wellness and physical wellness. As we have discovered in the recent weeks, there have been many research studies conducted that show how the mind/body connection can contribute to overall health and healing when a person is ill. We need to all remember this connection and the importance of maintaining spiritual and mental health with physical health.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Loving Kindness Exercise
Loving Kindness Exercise
Like the other exercises, I really enjoyed this. I found it beneficial because it reminded me of the importance of kindness. In my opinion, it was soothing as well as humbling and reminded me of how essential it is to implement kindness into everyday life.
Research has shown that mental workouts are just as important as physical workouts. I have competed in many athletic events over the years, and I know first hand that mental toughness is just as important as physical toughness when it comes to accomplishing goals as well as staying healthy. I must make it a priority to practice mental workouts just as I practice physical workouts because the mind-body connection is crucial to success and wellness.
Like the other exercises, I really enjoyed this. I found it beneficial because it reminded me of the importance of kindness. In my opinion, it was soothing as well as humbling and reminded me of how essential it is to implement kindness into everyday life.
Research has shown that mental workouts are just as important as physical workouts. I have competed in many athletic events over the years, and I know first hand that mental toughness is just as important as physical toughness when it comes to accomplishing goals as well as staying healthy. I must make it a priority to practice mental workouts just as I practice physical workouts because the mind-body connection is crucial to success and wellness.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Blog Week 3
Based on your reflections, and on a scale of 1 to 10 (ten being optimal wellbeing), where do you rate your A-physical wellbeing, B-spiritual well-being, C-psychological well-being? Why?
I would rate my physical well-being as fluctuating from a 7-9 I typically compete in marathons and triathlons, and when I am in training, I am exercise constantly and eat very well. However, when I am not in training, my eating and exercise habits are not as good. My goal is to be at a 9 constantly, even when I'm not in training.
My spiritual well-being is a 7. I pray each day, I feel as if I am a very spiritual person, but I do not always put my beliefs into practice. Once again, my goal is to increase this number.
For me, it is a little difficult to gauge my psychological well-being. I would say it is about an 8. I feel balanced mentally, but I do lose my temper at times, which I am working on.
Develop a goal for yourself in each area (physical, spiritual, psychological).
My goal in each of these areas is to be at least at a 9. I can increase each of these areas by implementing healthy physical, mental and spiritual practices.
What activities or exercise can you implement in your life to assist in moving toward each goal?
In order to move toward each goal, I must actually do what I have said I am going to do. For example, I must actually exercise six days a week, and not just say I am going to do this. Additionally, I need to actually attend church instead of having the intention to do so.
Relaxation Exercise
Once again, I enjoyed this exercise. As I stated before, I was skeptical about these types of exercises until I tried these. I enjoy the voice, the directions, and the calmness these entail.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Relaxation Exercise
From the beginning of this relaxation exercise, I felt calm, peaceful and relaxed. To be honest, I was a bit skeptical of an exercise such as this, but the music, narrator, and script was ideal to achieve a high level of relaxation.
The instructions paired with the information made the exercise informative, interesting, and tranquil. I could feel my mind-body connection working as I went through the exercise. It is clear that if a mind is trained, it can absolutely influence the body.
I recommend this exercise or any other relaxation exercise to everyone, but particularly to those who may be highly stressed or skeptical. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to experience this exercise.
The instructions paired with the information made the exercise informative, interesting, and tranquil. I could feel my mind-body connection working as I went through the exercise. It is clear that if a mind is trained, it can absolutely influence the body.
I recommend this exercise or any other relaxation exercise to everyone, but particularly to those who may be highly stressed or skeptical. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to experience this exercise.
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