The Subtle Mind

Good Evening Health Bloggers,

1. Explain your experience including the benefits, frustrations etc.

This week we had to compare and contrast the Loving Kindness exercise and the Subtle Mind exercise. While the Loving Kindness exercises allowed us to focus on others and reflect on are personal feelings of support and empathy to those we love and humanity as a whole, the Subtle Mind exercises is teaching us how to control our thoughts, to intentionally reinvent our thinking process and what we allow to affect our mind.   The internal & outward effect it has on the body and training our subconscious into a psychologically healthy mind-body connection.

My experience with the Subtle Mind exercise was more positive than the previous exercises.  I believe this happened because I was already tired and mentally my brain had been on overboard from the weeks work so I was at a place where I was pliable and receptive to listening to the meditational exercise.  The young lady's voice was very relaxing and the waves are a added incentive since it reminds me of the beach, which I love.  I am still learning to do breathing exercises and relax my mind and the advantage of this exercise was that it was over 20 minutes long so there was time to refocus when your thoughts would shift to a distracting thought.

2. Discuss the connection of the spiritual wellness to mental and physical wellness. Explain how the connection is manifested in your personal life.

As we are learning of how intricate the body is, we begin to understand we are more complex than most can imagine.  If we hurt our finger the finger doesn't say ouch but triggers the pain to our brain, which then can be shown through facial expression, emotion or verbal acknowledgement. When we spiritually are at a place of peace our minds are at ease and that same peace flows and is expressed in our body movements, stance and even appearance.  How we feel rather good or bad can be seen and felt within us and outwardly to others which lets us know that there is a connection of spirit, mind and body. When we are depressed, some have lost of appetite, are unfocused, become isolated and studies have shown that this is in direct correlation to brain patterns and negative thought.  The opposite is true when we are joyous or incorporate exercises like meditation and yoga.  The brain shows signs of a natural happy drug-endorphins that show the link and effect it has between the brain and our bodies.

Respectfully,
Desiree Stroder

Loving Kindness Exercise

Good Evening Consciousness and Healing Bloggers,

This week I had to allow myself the experience of the “Loving Kindness” exercise.  I do believe it was beneficial in that I am able to experience, express and recognize feeling that I have for those I love when they are close to me and the intense pain and empathy I feel for those who are hurting.  The talking was still an issue for me but the sound of the waves had a positive effect on my ability to relax.  Yet, once I had to think of a loved one who was sick and in pain and remove the image and “breath out” positivity, I was unsuccessful in that manner.  As I thought about that person, the images were hard to remove and I began to focus more on the pain of their situation wishing I could take it away.  I found myself starting to pray almost unconsciously that God would remove the pain and heal them because that is my source of healing when I am having these feelings.  Needless to say, after I prayed the images left but my focus on the exercise was no longer in the picture. 

What constitutes a “Mental Workout” is the daily training of the mind.  In the text Integral Health, author Dacher talks about Contemplative Practice, this practice involves the intentional practice of quiet thinking, meditation or thought. A place of peace and calm where you can reflect and am fully alert and in tuned with your inner spirituality. Research indicated the benefits of a continuous mental workout can improve hormone imbalances, immune systems, our attention span, memory and view of what’s around us.  Prayer, yoga and meditation would be tools that I would use to implement my mental workouts.  The power to have some follow through on these mental exercises have the most potential for benefits.

Respectfully,

Desiree Stroder

References:

Dacher, E. S. (2006). Integral Health: The Path to Human Flourishing. Basic Health Publication, Inc. Laguna Beach, CA.

Rate My Mind, Body and Soul Wellness/Relaxation Exercise #2

Good Afternoon Health and Wellness Discovers,

As a person who has juggled family, school, work and life, I must say that my “whole” self is in need of an overhaul, spa year (not day) and a lot if clutter removal.  Unintentionally, I have taken a side thought to self-care and tried to supply everyone else’s (family, friends, work) needs because that is what I felt was priority in my life.  This week we have to reflect, score and analyze the importance of mind, body and soul during this journey called life. 

On a scale of 1-10 I had to rate my physical health, spiritual wellness and psychological health.

A-physical well-being- 5

Although I have lost over 100 pounds of fat-my eating patterns are still off balance and unprepared.  I struggle with proper food chooses and consistency.  I get bored with exercises that have the same routine more than a couple of weeks.  Also it’s hard to get into a routine when I am the primary support to get my children to appointments, activities and school functions, so my time to get these bones a moving is difficult when time is limited.  My goal is to try to MAKE time for at least 30 minutes of exercise on a weekly basis which can entail walking, swimming, line dancing or Zumba with a good rotation so that I do not become complacent.

B-spiritual well-being-7

I am a women who believes in the power of prayer and I love God.  In the morning when I rise I listen to scripture and prepare my mind for the day ahead.  Spiritually, I believe I am the most intact because reading my bible is something I enjoy and do before anyone wakes up.  It is the one thing I have made precedence in my life.  My spirituality sustains me and strengthens me.  Even when tired I believe that my faith gives me renewed strength. Has taught me humility, kindness and wisdom.  I am also learning to take every experience as something that can have a positive message and life lesson to help others. My goal is to continue to study and learn to put into action among my fellow man acts of kindness, love, peaceable conversation and be a person who gives without the thought of receiving something in return,

C-psychological well-being-6

My mind is constantly in motion about to many things at times.  I gave myself a six because I believe that I have a strong since of who I am and can willingly acknowledge that there are some things in my life that need to be changes.  Sometimes the mind needs to be at rest where nothing is going on and that is my goal.  To mentally be stable enough to think clearly and realize multitasking is not the best thing for my life.  Focusing on one task at a time is best for me.  Turning the cell phone off during family time.  Meditating and just listening to nothing can give me clarity on issues if I allow myself to STOP doing everything and realize if I don’t my physical, mental and spiritual self will collapse because my being is a complete working system that needs wellness in each part to make a whole.

conclusion-Thoughts of Relaxation Exercise

Relaxation Exercise- Crime of the Century

The Rainbow exercise was frustrating due to trying to focus on too many trains of thought from the instructor in my opinion.  The deep breathing was fine but once I had to put colors to body parts as well as think about objects to represent them I lost focus.  When I think of meditation I think of quietness, minimal conversation and one point of focus like the sound of a waterfall, quiet music or complete quiet, so this didn't work for me.

Be Well, Desiree Stroder

Welcome-Introduction

Good Afternoon All,

Just wanted to welcome you to my blog site-Relaxation Station Identification.  I decided to name it so because you know that little beep we use to get sooooo long ago when television stations cut off at midnight and then it was silence in the house?  Well, fast forward to the 21st Century and nothing stops, it seems like meetings, technology, internet, Facebook and every other new thing has taken over the world!.  What ever happened to the times when we played outside until the street lights came on, or allowed our children to make mud pies and run in the grass and rain and didn't care about the dirt? What about family dinners and reading bed time stories? 

This blog is just that.  A service (identification) awareness broadcast.  I am pretty blunt an honest about my beliefs, thoughts and opinions.  This blog will hopefully educated me moe in how to get back to what is really important.  Taking time out for self reflection, healing and releasing stress as well as being more conscious and caring about others in my atmosphere and not just my inner circle.

Be Blessed,

Desiree Stroder

Journey on Relaxation Exercise

Good Afternoon Class,

After listening and trying to follow the relaxation instructor's directions I was unsuccessful.  I tried to relax, take shoes off and do the proper breathing techniques but my hand and arms never felt any heavier or relaxed.  I believe that I was unable to be a good participant due to all the music and the constant talking.  My job requires me to be constantly alert and busy.  Working with children that are autistic and deaf, I hear noises, bells, screams, shouting and play ALL day.  When I come home I usually relax by sitting somewhere quiet, no noise.  My need for relaxation and quiet time happens after well after everyone is in bed because I still have dinner to prepare, a husband and children at home to assist.  Not to mention other family duties and school work.

While listening  I was constantly in "think" mode to prepare what I would remember to write for this blog regarding my experience.  As well as how to properly write this blog. 

Unfortunately my brain and body didn't want to go on the "journey".  I also felt that the voice was hard to listen to because it was unfamiliar and a little creepy to me.  Hopefully, other students experiences were more successful.


Respectfully Truthful,

Desiree Stroder