Mental Fitness Presentation

https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dgbt36b9_0c58nxbgg

Subtle Mind Exercise

I first tried the Subtle Mind exercise prior to the beginning of class and I used some techniques that I am learning through meditation in order to 'still my mind' and I felt it was more, no pun intended' subtle than our last exercise. I used my breathing as focus and did so more diligently I could feel my mind clearing, sounds strange and I hope I am describing it well but it was surreal. I think this exercise requires much focus and with time is parallel to meditation a great way to quiet the mind and find mental clarity.

I liked both exercises but I think I preferred this one slightly more over the Loving-Kindness exercise. The vital part of integral health and maintaining these exercises is to clear a path for that harmony and balance and instill wellness into our lifestyles thus strengthening our mind-body and spirit.

Thanks ~ Linda

Mental Workout

The mental workout concept is the same concept as working out and training ones body but it is for training one's mind as well as mental clarity and acuity. Practicing on expanding ones mind is something that will help one build on ones psycho spiritual health as well as achieving optimum a mind-body connection.

Mental workouts have proven that it is possible to train ones mind to 'workout' the negative emotions such as anger and fear diminishing these as to enhance and replace them with more positive, fruitful emotions such as patience and acceptance as well as optimal loving-kindness.

Becoming aware and conscious of mental workouts each day and including them in my life will enhance my well-being into a more peaceful lifestyle and once again gradually assist me with attaining harmony and balance towards my path to wholeness and optimal wellness.

Loving Kindness Exercise

I must admit my first attempt was somewhat successful but it needed much improvement, which I am still working on and will continue in order to be able to fully accept loving kindness. I try every day to accept others and bring loving-kindness honestly and openly into my daily and I would consider myself the antithesis of a self-centered person. I put a great deal of focus into my breathing and consciously bringing love in and exhaling bad visions or relationships out while listening to the exercise. I having been practicing and will continue until the exercise is without a conscious effort and then I will be further along the path to harmony, balance and integral health.

Crime of the Century

Once again I enjoyed this particular audio and the narrator's melodic voice, very soothing and peaceful. When I listened to this lesson I was extremely tired so it was almost mesmerizing and I honestly do not know if I fell asleep or drifted off intermittently when listening but I remember visualizing the color green, which happens to be my only son's favorite color and it was also my mother's, I could feel a sensation and I feel like it was both of them connecting with me at the same time, sounds wild but it was a warm flowing sensation. As I said I was almost in a dreamlike state because I was so tired and towards the end I know I drifted off to slumber land. I will revisit this lesson because I think there are some powerful visualizations to beget with this type of exercise.

Level of Well-Being - Unit 3

I will be rating my levels of physical, spiritual and psychological well-being on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the optimum.

Physical - 6

I have high expectations for my physical well-being and until lately I have fallen grossly short of those expectations. My recent primary care taking duties have left me both mentally and physically drained altough I know one of the key factors in taking care of someone else is to make sure you take care of yourself. I let that fly completely out the window and as a result became run down and out of shape, not egregiously out of shape but nothing that I am use to nor tolerate. I have started on a path of meditation as well as yoga along with power walking and some core muscle strengthening exercises. All of these movements will help me orchestrate the person I want within , a more healthful person.

Spiritual -6

I find that I am really developing my spiritual well-being, making a conceted effort to achieve that ultimate inner harmony and balance. Evolving my spiritualism is most important at this time particularly with the recent loss of my mother it is most important for acceptance of that loss and the loss of some of my inner light. I am using jouraling to help direct thoughts on paper for later reflection and meditation to quiet myself and gain more acceptance of her death each day.

Psychological - 5

I feel that everything is somewhat predicated on my psychological well-being meaning that both my physical and spiritual well-being are not at higher levels so this in turn diminishes my psychological capacity. I need to look forward more than 'wallowing' in the past and embrace what I am and who I am evolving into to, the person I am meant to be and not drain my energy on things I do not have control at in the moment. I need to engage more time in my favorite pastime - design as this helps re-direct and nourish my focus. As I navigate through class and start to de-clutter I anticipate raising my psychological level of well-being significantly.

All of these are a work in progress and evolve daily and my goal is to raise my physical, spiritual and psychological well-being to the optimal in order to live a healthful life in harmony and balance.

Journey on Relaxation

I am a little behind the eight ball, I apologize for that, but here in my perspective on the relaxation exercise for Unit 2. First I must say it was most relaxing almost to the point of mesmerizing and I felt the narrator had a pleasant-sounding voice and very smooth, like warm honey it was just an open invitation to relax! I pulled out my yoga mat and proceeded to lie down on the floor after chasing my dog from the mat and started to focus. i actually threw a light blanket over me because the room was cool. I focused on my arms, upper torso, neck and shoulders and could almost feel tension dissolving and a distribution of blood flow. I used breathing that I have recently learned with meditation, nose breathing and could feel each breath, the rise and fall of my abdomen with each breath and with this relaxation i actually felt it difficult to move my arms but it was cathartic and it was if the tension and stress were dissolving like warm honey in a cup of hot tea, amazing and exhilarating.

I did similar exercises such as this one years ago in an outward bound group that I attended with a work group for ten days and after doing this exercise I recalled how relaxing it was, we ended each day with this technique so it was great to have this opportunity again. Wonderful for stress reduction!