Hello Everyone,
I did the meeting Aesclepius track at a time when I really needed to. I was dealing with an in-law that wanted to keep up an argument that was repeated from years ago. Listening to the track averted my feelings to something loving and positive for my soul. During this exercise, I met someone whom this body never knew, but my soul was so happy to see. It was a truly wonderful experience. This helped me to let go of my hearts angst and relieved my soul for the evening. I slept soundly, and woke up energized. To me this is worth doing when I can recognize the need.
In our book, Lawrence E. George (2005) wrote about Ken Wilbur's work reflecting on the statement "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself" I believe this means to teach concepts of health and wellness it is important to know what you are talking about. To be educated in the field by means of experience, not just personal but observed is equally important. As an Occupational therapy assistant, I teach a pre- procedural spine class. I have not had spine surgery, but I am confident in my teachings because I have studied at length the best ways to move the body without exacerbating issues of the spine, either from watching and learning from my patients, discovering how to move myself when in pain relating to the procedure and learning from the surgeons and staff as well as education I completed on the subject. I do not believe you have to endure a certain health issue to be good at educating, but to have good strong knowledge of the subject and openness to differences in patients. Empathy is also a helping factor in educating patients about health and wellness. I do believe as a practitioner of health and wellness it is important to be obligated to know most if not all aspects of your specialty. As I go through this class, I am learning the benefits of meditation and personal mindfulness. I feel I am growing up and getting what life has to offer, as well as learning the special gifts that I have to offer for someone else's life.
Schlitz et al, (2005)Consciousness & Healing, Integral Approaches to Mind-Body Medicine. Elsivier Inc.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Unit 6 The exercises and assessment
Hello everyone,
The universal loving kindness exercise was a bit easier for me to follow than the previous exercise where we were told to breathe in strangers pain. This exercise is very pertinent in my current career and I think it can turn my defiance against the other exercise around to something I can actually work with and succeed in.
The aspect of my life that throbbed out to me is both biological and interpersonal. Interpersonal because my family has lost 3 members within the last six months. My Grandmother means the world to me and she just lost both her oldest and youngest sons to cancer. My 24 year old cousin was shot down in a jealous rage from his bandmate. The whole family is grieving and all at different levels of sadness, anger and frustration. It is a stressful time, some of the family look to me for support and their sounding board, in which I can do, but need to learn how to release it. When a friend vents it is not always personal. When family vents, it usually is about other family members and that makes it personal, leading me to hold on to my feelings as well as theirs. I have added biological because aspects are suffering due to the large issues I am feeling with the family. People have been visiting, so there are a lot of restaurants, ice cream shops and wine... ohhh the wine. My body is beginning to tell me to back off, which is exactly what I need to do. Specific exercises that I need to do are to continue with this universal loving kindness meditation maybe put focus on my family and drop a little love for myself especially in the area of gaining momentum for getting back on track of healthy eating and exercise.
The universal loving kindness exercise was a bit easier for me to follow than the previous exercise where we were told to breathe in strangers pain. This exercise is very pertinent in my current career and I think it can turn my defiance against the other exercise around to something I can actually work with and succeed in.
The aspect of my life that throbbed out to me is both biological and interpersonal. Interpersonal because my family has lost 3 members within the last six months. My Grandmother means the world to me and she just lost both her oldest and youngest sons to cancer. My 24 year old cousin was shot down in a jealous rage from his bandmate. The whole family is grieving and all at different levels of sadness, anger and frustration. It is a stressful time, some of the family look to me for support and their sounding board, in which I can do, but need to learn how to release it. When a friend vents it is not always personal. When family vents, it usually is about other family members and that makes it personal, leading me to hold on to my feelings as well as theirs. I have added biological because aspects are suffering due to the large issues I am feeling with the family. People have been visiting, so there are a lot of restaurants, ice cream shops and wine... ohhh the wine. My body is beginning to tell me to back off, which is exactly what I need to do. Specific exercises that I need to do are to continue with this universal loving kindness meditation maybe put focus on my family and drop a little love for myself especially in the area of gaining momentum for getting back on track of healthy eating and exercise.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Unit 5 Mental fitness
Hello,
As some of you may know, I was very hung up on aspects of loving kindness. For the most part I was able to follow along with it until the idea of opening up to strangers. I had to redefine who strangers are to me. Initially I felt that a stranger is anyone I hadn't met. Are classmates strangers, no I've met you on the discussion boards and in the introductions. Are patients strangers, no, I've researched their histories and have also had introductions. So who is a stranger? To me a stranger is the random person I share space with in public. I can share. I can be open to new ideas, but I have modified my personal practice to something I can live with and flourish with.
The subtle mind exercises are the opportunity to bring awareness to your breath and body connection. The only trouble I had was the random thoughts that I usually like to run with. Specifically during the instruction to take 10 deep breaths, I lost count and my focus went to the sound of the water and the distant flute, but wait, It was familiar. It reminded me of the movie The Titanic and the instrumental song of My Heart Will Go On by Celene Dion. By then I was out in left field with no idea of my mind body connection. This is an exercise of focus. I need to work on it. I have never been diagnosed with attention deficit, but know it is present in myself and in my kids. My family has ingrained in me that ADD meds are not part of our health routine and I have raised my children this way as well, with focus on dietary needs and mind calming activities at opportune times. These exercises take that concept one step further. It is more structured, and when instructed it may be easier to follow completely without distraction once the mind has gained strength. It is something that once I feel I have developed a skill for, I will teach my sons.
When mental and physical wellness are being addressed, It will open doors for greater understanding and connection with the spiritual aspects of your life. Perhaps having little to do with religion but greater awareness of the universal life force, ones soul, or the ethereal being.
As some of you may know, I was very hung up on aspects of loving kindness. For the most part I was able to follow along with it until the idea of opening up to strangers. I had to redefine who strangers are to me. Initially I felt that a stranger is anyone I hadn't met. Are classmates strangers, no I've met you on the discussion boards and in the introductions. Are patients strangers, no, I've researched their histories and have also had introductions. So who is a stranger? To me a stranger is the random person I share space with in public. I can share. I can be open to new ideas, but I have modified my personal practice to something I can live with and flourish with.
The subtle mind exercises are the opportunity to bring awareness to your breath and body connection. The only trouble I had was the random thoughts that I usually like to run with. Specifically during the instruction to take 10 deep breaths, I lost count and my focus went to the sound of the water and the distant flute, but wait, It was familiar. It reminded me of the movie The Titanic and the instrumental song of My Heart Will Go On by Celene Dion. By then I was out in left field with no idea of my mind body connection. This is an exercise of focus. I need to work on it. I have never been diagnosed with attention deficit, but know it is present in myself and in my kids. My family has ingrained in me that ADD meds are not part of our health routine and I have raised my children this way as well, with focus on dietary needs and mind calming activities at opportune times. These exercises take that concept one step further. It is more structured, and when instructed it may be easier to follow completely without distraction once the mind has gained strength. It is something that once I feel I have developed a skill for, I will teach my sons.
When mental and physical wellness are being addressed, It will open doors for greater understanding and connection with the spiritual aspects of your life. Perhaps having little to do with religion but greater awareness of the universal life force, ones soul, or the ethereal being.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Unit 4 Loving kindness
As I listened to the loving kindness track, I thought I could follow along, It is a meditation bringing awareness to a loved one. I had a moment where I was able to remember happy times of my son's younger days. A time where I held him in my arms and fed him a bottle, the way he looked at me with his big blue eyes. I remembered our bond. Something I had missed for a while (He is currently 18)(18 is far more challenging than terrible 2's). For this recollection, I would recommend the exercise. Moving on to breathing in his suffering, and exhaling love and health. This concept is new to me. Because it is my son that I thought of, because he is part of me, it was no chore. Some family members that I love, but could not fathom breathing in their suffering, I wouldn't even share a drink with most of them. Taking in peoples pain, suffering and who knows what is out of my comfort zone. I am a manual therapist, and I do grounding exercises prior to treatments to avoid taking in peoples issues. I am very sensitive to touch and have experienced a few undesirable side effects by taking on too much of someones suffering or pain in the form ranging from mild with cold then hot sweats to extreme like explosive diarrhea. At work! To think of inhaling ones pain and letting it dissolve in my heart is scary, what if there is no outlet, how does it dissolve. I have come to terms with the idea that I just don't want to take in anyone else's pain that hasn't already been inside of my body. Maybe I will open the door to those that I share DNA with, but I think, so far, I am drawing the line there.
Thinking of the line of enemies. I thought the line would be short, until a few people did begin to show up. I then began to think why are we enemies then on to the idea of forgiveness. Had I given myself the chance to forgive them, why or why not? Then there is the idea of forgiving myself for any wrong doing to them. This I will have to continue to work on. This meditation, loving kindness is an interesting concept, and it is one that I know I shouldn't be closed off to. What if this practice took place of my current grounding system. What if learning to visualize their pain actually dissolve served the same purpose? Maybe someday I will brave it and try. To me this post is all about a mental workout. Exhausting yet satisfying. Energy generating and focused.
Thinking of the line of enemies. I thought the line would be short, until a few people did begin to show up. I then began to think why are we enemies then on to the idea of forgiveness. Had I given myself the chance to forgive them, why or why not? Then there is the idea of forgiving myself for any wrong doing to them. This I will have to continue to work on. This meditation, loving kindness is an interesting concept, and it is one that I know I shouldn't be closed off to. What if this practice took place of my current grounding system. What if learning to visualize their pain actually dissolve served the same purpose? Maybe someday I will brave it and try. To me this post is all about a mental workout. Exhausting yet satisfying. Energy generating and focused.
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