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