- Compare and contrast the Loving Kindness exercise and the Subtle mind exercise. Explain your experience including the benefits, frustrations etc.
- Discuss the connection of the spiritual wellness to mental and physical wellness. Explain how the connection is manifested in your personal life.
1. I liked the sublte mind exercise much better. I was able to connect with the narrator's voice and follow the instructions even though the pauses were long like the loving-kindness exercise. I'm also challenged with taking deep breaths. Since I have diminished lung capacity, I often cough when I try to inhale deeply which interrupts whatever I'm trying to do. Despite this challenge, I found myself relaxing more with this exercise. I think at one point I was concentrating on my breath too much because I felt the muscles in my eyes tighten up! LOL So I brought my attention to my eyes and breathed "through" them so I could relax my eyes (which were closed).
I have A LOT of chatter going on in my head! I have difficulty staying in the moment. I found myself anticipating when the silence would be over and the next instruction to come. I'm not sure I achieved the witnessing mind though. I would be willing to continue with this practice and definitely recommend it to others.
2. There are many definitions of wellness but I like this one: "Wellness is much more than merely physical health, exercise or nutrition. It is the full integration of states of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being" (University of California, Riverside, 2009). The mind-body-spirit wellness connection takes care of the whole person not just one part. Practicing wellness for any part of the paradigm, positively affects the wellness of the other(s). In order for me to have complete wellness, I have to achieve it in all three areas. This connection is manifested in my life by doing something for all three aspects; it can be something as simple as saying "Thank you God" when I wake up in the morning (spirit), to sitting in my truck in the parking lot for five minutes after work to calm myself down (mind) or walking the 500+ feet both ways back and forth from the parking lot at work (body).
Reference
Wellness. (2009). Retrieved from http://wellness.ucr.edu/seven_dimensions.html
Christine,
ReplyDeleteI also felt somewhat anxious for the silence to end during the subtle mind exercise, possibly because I am not accustom to making my self still without any stimualtion (reading, TV, sleep). I feel if we try to take some time everday just to empty our mind and realize the benefits for our holistic health (long term), just in a short time we can become a beter person with less negativity and more faith. What do you think?
Judy Allen Powell
Judy,
DeleteI agree wit you that we (I) must take time everyday to practice until it becomes a habit or natural to us to do it.
Christine
Hi Christine
ReplyDeleteThis exercise was easier for me also. It was easier to understand what I was trying to accomplish. It also felt less "wishy washy". The loving-kindness exercise kind of made me feel awkward. This week felt more natural to me. I do like your tool of "breathing through your eyes" as a focal point. I will have to try it./
Good luck on your future efforts.
Christine,
ReplyDeleteI could not agree more with you in the fact that I liked this exercise better than the loving-kindness. Loving kindness wanted me to think so much and it did not allow for any relaxation. I know that was kind of the purpose sort of of the assignment, but the subtle mind exercise I was able to just focus and I felt it was very beneficial for me and that I would definitely engage in thsi activity again. Great points and best of luck with all you do!
-Shana Rodriguez