Hello Classmates and Dr. Aguilar,
Each week I get ready to start the integral health exercise, and before I even get started I begin to feel stressed about the exercise itself. I feel that I cannot get myself to shut down long enough to get anything from the exercise. I wish that I could just sit and listen quietly to the recording, but I simply cannot get myself to relax. In fact, it almost causes me more anxiety to sit and listen to the exercise. I am usually a very positive person, so I have been struggling with being truthful about how these exercises affect me. I wish that I was having the anticipated feelings of relaxation and calm that these exercises should produce, but they actually seem to have the opposite effect on me. My husband was listening in on the exercise. He was watching me as I was focusing on the previous directions each time there was a pause. He later said that he would like to listen to the recording himself. I can see that this must be a useful tool to some people, I just wish that I could wrap my head around it. I tried shortening the time of the exercise like Dacher suggested. At the end of the five minutes I was practically jumping up to get back to other tasks. I wonder why I am struggling with these techniques so much....
Mental workouts are allowing yourself the time and practice of using your emotions and state of mind to enhance your well being. Studies show that having a compassionate, happy, and peaceful state of mind can actually enhance your ability to make spiritual connections and achieve well being. Perhaps this is where I am faltering. Integral health seems to be a "mind over matter" thought process to me. I definitely struggle with this. If I was able to believe in this practice more fully I think that I would then be able to use integral health and contemplative practices to enhance my well being physically, psychologically, and spiritually.
Thanks for reading,
Kaitlin
Kaitlin,
ReplyDeleteI totally understand how you are feeling about not being able to accomplish these exercises. I too have trouble letting my mind clear enough to totally enjoy the exercises and follow the instructions. I too am thinking about what else needs done while trying to relax. Maybe once school is finished and we get our lives back we will be able to enjoy these types of exercises.
Blessings,
Tennille
Hi Kaitlin,
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate your honesty. It is hard for me to quiet my mind as well but I imagine this will be much easier if we just let go and practice. Do you think it would be easier if you were alone rather than having your husband listening in? That in itself could be a real distraction as you are wondering what he is thinking and so on. You may be reacting in the way that you think you should in front of him rather than in the way you would if you were alone. Myself, I really believe in the practice it is just taking the time and having the determination and perseverance to do it! The hardest thing for me is embracing my enemies. I feel horrible every time I say it but gosh that is hard! Are these other tasks that you are jumping up to do really that important or could getting in touch with your inner self be of more value?? LOL, listen to me! I really need to take my own advice :)
Heidi Waldman
Kaitlin,
ReplyDeleteYou know, you really shouldn't be so hard on yourself. These audios are not everyone's bag of chips. They can be boring and very difficult to sit through. Even when you are bored and have nothing to do, they aren't easy to focus on. They might not be your "thing" and that's okay. The fact that you tried is all that matters. You being honest about it and telling us what you didn't get out of it is all that we can ask of you. This is the first of the three that I have listened to that I could actually stand and suffer through. I think, maybe you could find a better way to relax and replace your negative emotions with positive emotions if that is more comfortable for you. It's all about finding our inner self, right? I wish you the best of luck on your relaxation journey!! Take care.
Laura Beote
I think that it is hard sometimes to do the relazation techniques. I had a relaxation tape that I used to use when I was ready to go to sleep. I found that it was easier to relax when it was time for bed. It was hard for me to relax in the day time when I knew that I have other tasks that I had to complete for the day. If I got frustrated during the day then I would breathe relax myself after I feel the stress go away I would continue on with my tasks. I hope that you are able to complete one of the exercise tasks before the class is over.
ReplyDeleteHi Kaitlin,
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about the exercises; I cannot seem to tune everything out and make it to the end of the exercise. I am going try and carve out a time specifically for the exercise so that my mind will not be as occupied with the other things I need to do. Maybe after your husband listens to some exercises, he can give us some advice!
Good luck!
Maria