Hello Classmates and Dr. Arguilar,
My two favorite exercises have actually been from the past two weeks. I think that this is because it had taken me that long (weeks 6 and 7) to really understand how to get the most from these. It took me awhile to begin to open up my mind to these exercises. I am by no means at the end of the road. I am just beginning to understand how to acclimate myself to the integral health lifestyle, but I feel as if I could receive a lot of positivity by choosing this road and sticking to it.
I enjoyed the loving kindness exercise because it allowed me to release anger that I was holding for someone in my life. I don't like having feelings like that toward anyone, but it makes it even more difficult when it is someone that I see on a regular basis. During this exercise I let my anger melt away and tried to put a different spin on that relationship. I now have more patience and acceptance for this person.
Last week's exercise was pleasant for me because it asked me to think of anyone I wanted dead or alive. This gave me the opportunity to think of my father. Whenever I take the time to really remember him and enjoy his memory I find that my entire mood changes. I had a fantastic relationship with my dad, and I miss him everyday. I never seem to have the time to really just sit and enjoy his memory, so this exercise was the perfect opportunity for me to think about him. His image made me feel peaceful and calm.
I need to keep the thoughts of these exercises close in my mind when this class ends because the lessons that they have taught me can carry me further on the path to integral health.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Unit 7 Assignment
Hello Dr. Arguilar and Classmates,
I found this units assignment to be much more enjoyable than assignments in past weeks. I think that this is because I was asked to think of someone who is strong, peaceful, and incredibly important to me. I decided to think of my father during this exercise. My father passed away about four years ago and he is always a comfort to me when I am facing difficult times. I envisioned him as the exercise requested, and it brought me to a happier place. I think that whenever I have the opportunity to think about my father that I am always brought to a happier place. This feeling put me in a better state of mind for the rest of the exercise. Thanks Dad :) By using the peace I feel when I envision my father I can try to become more spiritually enlightened through meditation practice. This will help me in the process of integral health because it will allow to finally begin to get a grasp on meditation and the good it can do for me.
"One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself"
This means exactly as it states. If I want to become a person who is able to help others on the road to integral health than I muse first travel this road myself. It is not wise to tell others to do what you could not achieve yourself. It would be like an alcoholic trying to help someone get sober while still drinking himself.
I can achieve integral health and spiritual wellness by taking the stress out of my life through meditation and a healthful lifestyle. When I am living a better life mind, body, and spirit I will be more prepared to help my future clients.
Thanks,
Kaitlin
I found this units assignment to be much more enjoyable than assignments in past weeks. I think that this is because I was asked to think of someone who is strong, peaceful, and incredibly important to me. I decided to think of my father during this exercise. My father passed away about four years ago and he is always a comfort to me when I am facing difficult times. I envisioned him as the exercise requested, and it brought me to a happier place. I think that whenever I have the opportunity to think about my father that I am always brought to a happier place. This feeling put me in a better state of mind for the rest of the exercise. Thanks Dad :) By using the peace I feel when I envision my father I can try to become more spiritually enlightened through meditation practice. This will help me in the process of integral health because it will allow to finally begin to get a grasp on meditation and the good it can do for me.
"One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself"
This means exactly as it states. If I want to become a person who is able to help others on the road to integral health than I muse first travel this road myself. It is not wise to tell others to do what you could not achieve yourself. It would be like an alcoholic trying to help someone get sober while still drinking himself.
I can achieve integral health and spiritual wellness by taking the stress out of my life through meditation and a healthful lifestyle. When I am living a better life mind, body, and spirit I will be more prepared to help my future clients.
Thanks,
Kaitlin
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Unit 6 Post
Hello Classmates and Dr. Arguilar,
When I practiced the Loving Kindness exercise I was able to let go of some anger that I had been feeling towards an acquaintance of mine. I am constantly feeling surrounded by love and kindness from my friends and family, so I thought that it would be a good idea for me to think of someone who I do not have a good relationship with. I think that if I am able to push forward with this exercise perhaps I would be able to let go of the anger I hold towards this person. When I was repeating the phrases I tried to keep this individual in the back of my mind. After spending about ten minutes repeating these phrases I actually was able to feel my anger towards this person lesson. This person has made some very bad choices and at this point I feel sad for him. I want him to be a better person, so I will try to send him healing thoughts.
When I did the assessment I discovered that I simply want to feel more spiritually connected. I have really struggled through this class. The exercises have been very difficult for me, although it was much easier this week. I feel so overwhelmed at times with how much I have to do (school, work, and life), but I think that if I were to master the meditation exercises from this class that I would be in a better place spiritually.
I would like to continue to practice meditation. I will try to use my husband as a mentor because he seems to enjoy meditation a lot. He has been meditating for about six months now, and he is definitely that calmest and happiest that I have seen him in years. He has struggled with anxiety in the past and had even tried medication to control it. Now he has little to no anxiety, and when he does become anxious he uses meditation as a way to end those feelings.
I look forward to putting some more effort into this aspect of my life.
Thanks for reading,
Kaitlin
When I practiced the Loving Kindness exercise I was able to let go of some anger that I had been feeling towards an acquaintance of mine. I am constantly feeling surrounded by love and kindness from my friends and family, so I thought that it would be a good idea for me to think of someone who I do not have a good relationship with. I think that if I am able to push forward with this exercise perhaps I would be able to let go of the anger I hold towards this person. When I was repeating the phrases I tried to keep this individual in the back of my mind. After spending about ten minutes repeating these phrases I actually was able to feel my anger towards this person lesson. This person has made some very bad choices and at this point I feel sad for him. I want him to be a better person, so I will try to send him healing thoughts.
When I did the assessment I discovered that I simply want to feel more spiritually connected. I have really struggled through this class. The exercises have been very difficult for me, although it was much easier this week. I feel so overwhelmed at times with how much I have to do (school, work, and life), but I think that if I were to master the meditation exercises from this class that I would be in a better place spiritually.
I would like to continue to practice meditation. I will try to use my husband as a mentor because he seems to enjoy meditation a lot. He has been meditating for about six months now, and he is definitely that calmest and happiest that I have seen him in years. He has struggled with anxiety in the past and had even tried medication to control it. Now he has little to no anxiety, and when he does become anxious he uses meditation as a way to end those feelings.
I look forward to putting some more effort into this aspect of my life.
Thanks for reading,
Kaitlin
Monday, April 1, 2013
Unit 5 Post
Hello Classmates and Dr, Arguilar,
After getting permission from Dr. Arguilar I have changed this assignment a bit. I have been struggling with the relaxation/meditation exercises from each unit. I had been voicing my frustration with my husband who is very much interested in overall health and wellness. He suggested that we try to do the exercises together. I had already heard the loving kindness exercise, but I listened to it again with my husband Mark. He meditates on a regular basis, but he usually does it by himself outside in the woods behind our house, so I have never watched him meditate before. I saw how he kept his eyes closed and really listened to what was instructed on the recording. I again was frustrated by the fact that he could just do what was asked, when I struggle through the recordings entirety. I watched how he was very engaged with the breathing techniques. I also noticed that he became tense and annoyed when he heard me make a noise, or when the recording would speak or make the background noises of waves or other sounds.
When the loving kindness exercise was over he told me that he really enjoyed it and that it was very similar to what he does when he meditates alone. He told me that he had a hard time staying focused on what he was supposed to be doing with the background noises on the recording. Mark also told me that he began to feel tingly all over his body, and he even saw some images that have come into view when he usually meditates alone. These are usually images of vivid colors and things in nature. This was an eye opening experience for me because it helped me to see that these meditation and relaxation techniques do work, and that it is up to me to overcome my struggles to be able to reach the level that my husband has.
With the subtle mind exercise my husband told me that he had a much harder time tuning everything out and concentrating on the exercise. In this exercise he found the directions and background noise on the recording very distracting to what he was trying to do. He usually meditates in the extreme quiet of the woods, so this was something new to him. I also struggled more during this exercise, but I was more interested in watching him trying to do the exercise than I was in following it myself. I really wanted to get an understanding of what it is that I am not doing to find these exercises successful.
My husband basically told me that I am not finding success from these exercises because I simply do not believe in them enough. He thinks that I am not giving these exercises all of my attention and consideration because I don't think that they will work for me. I am a very disciplined person, and when I want something I fight like crazy to achieve what it is that I want.With that being said I feel that he may be right. Perhaps I am not giving it my all like I thought that I was. Maybe I do just need to let everything else go and concentrate on the task at hand. Maybe if I were to do that my stress level would go down and I wouldn't feel so overwhelmed all the time.
I think that once I am able to put everything that I have into these exercises that I will find them to be beneficial in all aspects of my life. I have found that during physical exercise that the will to keep going is much more of a struggle with my mind than it is with my body. If I am able to strengthen my spiritual/mental well being than I will be able to become even stronger physically. This will help me feel better overall and increase my endurance and mind power.
Thanks,
Kaitlin
After getting permission from Dr. Arguilar I have changed this assignment a bit. I have been struggling with the relaxation/meditation exercises from each unit. I had been voicing my frustration with my husband who is very much interested in overall health and wellness. He suggested that we try to do the exercises together. I had already heard the loving kindness exercise, but I listened to it again with my husband Mark. He meditates on a regular basis, but he usually does it by himself outside in the woods behind our house, so I have never watched him meditate before. I saw how he kept his eyes closed and really listened to what was instructed on the recording. I again was frustrated by the fact that he could just do what was asked, when I struggle through the recordings entirety. I watched how he was very engaged with the breathing techniques. I also noticed that he became tense and annoyed when he heard me make a noise, or when the recording would speak or make the background noises of waves or other sounds.
When the loving kindness exercise was over he told me that he really enjoyed it and that it was very similar to what he does when he meditates alone. He told me that he had a hard time staying focused on what he was supposed to be doing with the background noises on the recording. Mark also told me that he began to feel tingly all over his body, and he even saw some images that have come into view when he usually meditates alone. These are usually images of vivid colors and things in nature. This was an eye opening experience for me because it helped me to see that these meditation and relaxation techniques do work, and that it is up to me to overcome my struggles to be able to reach the level that my husband has.
With the subtle mind exercise my husband told me that he had a much harder time tuning everything out and concentrating on the exercise. In this exercise he found the directions and background noise on the recording very distracting to what he was trying to do. He usually meditates in the extreme quiet of the woods, so this was something new to him. I also struggled more during this exercise, but I was more interested in watching him trying to do the exercise than I was in following it myself. I really wanted to get an understanding of what it is that I am not doing to find these exercises successful.
My husband basically told me that I am not finding success from these exercises because I simply do not believe in them enough. He thinks that I am not giving these exercises all of my attention and consideration because I don't think that they will work for me. I am a very disciplined person, and when I want something I fight like crazy to achieve what it is that I want.With that being said I feel that he may be right. Perhaps I am not giving it my all like I thought that I was. Maybe I do just need to let everything else go and concentrate on the task at hand. Maybe if I were to do that my stress level would go down and I wouldn't feel so overwhelmed all the time.
I think that once I am able to put everything that I have into these exercises that I will find them to be beneficial in all aspects of my life. I have found that during physical exercise that the will to keep going is much more of a struggle with my mind than it is with my body. If I am able to strengthen my spiritual/mental well being than I will be able to become even stronger physically. This will help me feel better overall and increase my endurance and mind power.
Thanks,
Kaitlin
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