1.
Compare and contrast the Loving Kindness
exercise and the Subtle mind exercise. Explain your experience including the
benefits, frustrations etc.
The subtle mind exercise was much easier for me to understand because listening
to the waves hit the beach my body felt so relaxed. Focusing on my breath kept
me awake and aware, but still at ease. This helped my mind to not wonder.
The loving kindness
exercise was more difficult for me because it was hard from me to visualize
taking in others suffering and replacing it with peace, love, and kindness.
This exercise was also very long and I think it is mainly used for people who
are more experienced with these types of exercises. It was hard for my mind to
settle down and focus on the exercise.
2. Discuss
the connection of the spiritual wellness to mental
and physical wellness. Explain
how the connection is manifested in your personal life.
Taking this
class at this time of my life now has helped me mentally, spiritually, and
physically. My grandmother died who I was very close with the day before my
birthday. It was unexpected and I am glad I was able to learn about integral
health so I could help my family and also myself through this grieving process.
Learning about loving kindness and loving yourself first gave me the strength
to give it to others. Spiritually I have grown into a faithful person who prays
everyday and I feel empowered to pray for others.
Having my
spirituality now has helped me get through many days I would have normally been
depressed, and unmotivated to do anything. I have understood that my life will
go on and I have learned many things through this grieving process. I am able
to go about my day and with my work out regimens I have started to push myself
further.
Nellie,
ReplyDeleteI feel pretty much the same as you about both exercises. The only difference being that I felt very sad after the Loving Kindness exercise...because at first I didn't think there was anyone that I knew that was suffering and then it hit me like a ton of bricks that I have a brother that suffered a massive stroke 4 years ago and he lives in a nursing home. I felt guilty and sad that he was not the first person who came to mind.
i am so glad that this class came at this time for you. It is so hard to lose someone that we love and even harder when it is unexpected. Loving Kindness would definitely be under these circumstances. My family lost my sister very unexpectedly and finding all the good that came out of that terrible situation really helped us all get through the days and weeks that followed.
Rose
Nellie, I am so sorry for your loss of your grandmother. I was very close to mine, and she was more like my mom than anyone else (even my mom). I feel the same as you about the two exercises. The loving kindness exercise was difficult with following the instructions to do what we were told to do...a little abstract for me, and vague. However, the subtle mind exercise is something I plan to use again and again. I was able to totally disconnect and do what the narrator was telling me to do. It was amazing how relaxed I felt. I didn't really care for the interruptions of her voice, after awhile. They were a bit aggravating at time. Overall, it was a great way to relax!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day :)
Hi Nellie, Just the same it was hard for me to focus at first as this is all new to me. The loving kindness one was difficult because thinking of someone who is ill, I would think about my sister who is currently fighting against cancer and doing what she can to survive.I love my sister dearly and If I can take pain away in an way to see her that way that she used to be ( always happy and smiling ) trust me I would. The breathing exercise works better for me because somehow the breathing sort brings me to a relaxed state of mind and am able to disconnect from all the stress for that moment.
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