I listened to the journey tape for the first time tonight. I listened to it while I was taking a warm bath. I felt myself slipping into relaxation slowly and gently. My arms and hands did experience a feeling of heaviness and not wanting to move up. I felt the blood go to my sore shoulders and seem to heal away the aching. I felt my breathing slow down and felt a bit sleepy yet not really tired. I think this is a great stress reducer.
Therese
Hi again Therese just going to chime in for a second. That was a great way to listen to that journey tape. I listend to it when I got offf of work instead of doing my normal meditation I used the tape. It was very relaxing, I felt refreshed when it was done and was ready to take on my house maker role. It is a great stress reducer, something we may all need.
ReplyDeleteTherese,
ReplyDeleteI felt the same expierence. I really enjoyed the relaxation exercise. It really helped to relieve some tension from my shoulders. I need to do this more often. I know it's beneficial, but it's sometimes difficult to get still and quiet enough to do this.
Maria,
Therese, it sounds like the relaxation exercise worked really good for you. That was a pretty good idea to listen to it while taking a bath, which probably added to the overall relaxation experience. Combining two or more different relaxation techniques can probably provide added benefits.
ReplyDeleteToday is Monday night, October 4th, 2010. I am still at work at 7 p.m. but only due to trying to catch up on paperwork after a mini-vay-cay! I was up the Gold Country of California for four days. I had some relatives come in from rural Illinois and I have two sisters that live in Northern California so we tried to find a good spot that was half-way for the sisters. It was really beautiful but hot (in the high 90's). I had never really explored that area and I highly recommend it for a visit to all of my fellow bloggers. There are many quaint gold mining towns. One even has the old wood sidewalks and another has a famous frog jumping contest/event each year based from Mark Twain's book. It was so good to be with extended family. I did not have internet and that added to the relaxation!
ReplyDeleteUnit 3 blog assignment:
ReplyDeleteRate Physical Well Being = 9
Spiritual Well Being = 7
Psychological Well Being = 7
Goals & Activities towards each goal: Physical Well Being - pick which marathon I want to run for #16 and develop a running schedule to meet that date with 2-3 months of increased running until the marathon - run 5 days min. per week.
Spirtual Well Being: bring more calmness and relaxation into my life - take time to do a meditation journey a minimum of 3 times a week
and can be any length of time
Pyschological Well Being: increase my happiness and joy - spend an hour each day out in nature (can be on walk, or sitting on beach or hike).
I keep trying to open the "crime of the century" relaxation and it will not open so I am frustrated at the moment. I will blog again when I finally get to hear it.
Therese
Saturday evening
ReplyDeleteI just listened to the "crime of the century" meditation. I feel like I am still floating about. Why is this meditation named this?? That makes no sense to me. I found my mind did not want to quiet and was feeling too buzzy. When I got the violet color at the crown of the head, my mind finally settled down. I then felt softer and kinder and just a gentle relaxation throughout my whole body. I would like to do this meditation every day. Does anyone know how to copy it to keep on computer for future use even when this course is over?
Therese
Hi Therese, It is really wonderful to experience such a nice relaxation exercise. As a massage therapist I frequently experience meditation and stress reducing exercises before I start a therapy.
ReplyDeleteEric
Hi It is Thursday evening and I just listened to the Dacher c.d. exercise #1 and #2. I loved the entire exercise #1 of loving kindness. I calmed mentally and physically during the meditation. My mind did wander and I realized how much of my daytime hours, I spend in negative thinking or emotion. I want to change this. I really want to get to my natural state of kindness and integrity and being positive.
ReplyDeleteI had a bad experience with exercise #2. It started off just fine and then became all static and very loud and obnoxious. All I could hear was loud static. I was so disappointed. I have kept the c.d. in it's case so not sure if it came this way or not. Did anyone else experience this with their c.d.? I highly recommend doing exercise #1 and I am going to try to listen to it twice a day like Dacher suggests.
Mental workout is using the mind in new ways on a regualar basis. Like if I started listening to these exercises every day once a day and then I increase it to twice a day, I will be exercising my mind. I will be teaching it to calm down and be still. The results that I can expect if I do these mental workouts is increased health, happiness and overall flourishing. It will have an impact on my mind, body and spirit! I can implement mental workouts in my life in several ways. I can make and keep the committment to do the meditation exericses at first once a day and then to twice a day. While I physically exercise, I can focus on my breathing and teach my mind to relax and settle down. I look forward to trying these exercises on a regular basis and see how it will affect my life.
Therese
Theresa,
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you enjoyed the exercise Loving Kindness as much as I did. I started to listen to the second listen, but I couldn't really find myself foucusing on it enough. I said I will try again tonight after football, cooking dinner, combing my daughter hair to get ready for school tomorrow, so I wan't find myself having anymore distractions. I also have an issue with positive thinking, and I always have. I think that most of my negative thinking comes from my childhood and how hard it was growing up with 6 siblings and a single mother. We always had the things we needed, but never any of the things we truly wanted. I think the negativity stemed from the fact that it seemed like my mother could never get a break, she worked long hours for pennies, never had enough food really after feeding all of us dinner, she would eat the straps, and it never seemed to get better for her until we were all grown. So, I always find myself thinking like something will happen to put my family back into that situatiion, or thats the way I'm destined to be just always finding the negative out of anything positive that occurs in my life. I really am going to try to listen bto this C.D. twice a week I think it will definitly help.
See you in class.
Hi Therea!
ReplyDeleteMy name is Kathy McQuary. I would like to take this opportunity to say I find your blog very interesting and lively. I am a bit behind on school assignments so I will comment on you unit three discussion. On the "Crime of the ccentury meditation exercise; since I do not hear well(wear hearing aids)this can be frustrating trying to hear what the instructer is saying. however I find that I can learn to relax if I just go ahead and let music flow and hear what ever I can. If I have to concentrate on the meditation it does not do anything for me at except make me more tense. I also think that calmness and relaxation is essential to spiritual wellbeing, fiinding it however one needs to can help put thing into perspective. I have to rearrange all three of mine since apparently my Physical wellbeing isn't up to par at the moment.Getting all three to balance is like building a foundation; first you must start with a strong foundation and build your way up to a satisifying enjoyable inner peace. Any thoughts? Kathy
http://blue-eyesserenity.blogspot.com/
Eric,
ReplyDeleteWow! I wish I had a massage therapist that did that! I do belong to a monthly counseling group for many years now and we do a journey meditation each time and ask for a guide. It also helps for whatever situation or issue that I am addressing - 100% of the time.
thanks for responding.
Therese
Ulaunda,
ReplyDeleteI completely understand your feelings about that it could happen to your family. I still have financial insecurities where others would laugh at me over. I worry what if I got really sick and needed home care and then there would not be enough money left. My son is grown so I know he is okay and has his own career and yet I still worry. Thank you for responding and I say we just keep doing meditations for our spirit and mind, even after this course.
Therese
Kathy a.k.a blue eyes!
ReplyDeleteI am so thrilled that you found a way to do the meditation tapes in spite of your disability.
It most be so frustrating at times during the seminars and these tapes. My heart goes out to you and sounds like you are a real trooper. Yes it takes a balance of mind, body and spirit to have true complete health. Just keeping working on each one! thanks for responding to my blog.
Therese
Unit 5 Blog - First off - can anyone advise me how to get my new blog at the top of my home page? I have to just go to the post a comment box and add on. Is this how you are doing it?
ReplyDeleteExercise #2 Subtle Mind vs. Exercise #1 Loving kindness:
I actually so far like #1 Loving Kindness better. I seem to be able to stay in it and do it and it stays with me. I find myself the next day repeating some of the words of it. Tonight was the first time I listened to #2 as my c.d. is very scratchy. I liked it but found it too long. I am really tired physically tonight so don't know if that is why. I found myself thinking how much longer and then I would redirect back to the meditation and keep my mind there. I found it a bit frustrating as it seemed to be harder to me. I will keep an open mind and try it again when not so tired.
Part 2 - the entire balance needs to be in a circle - the mind the body and the spirit. This is necessary to have true health and happiness.
In my life this is manifested when I am out on a run in nature. As I observe different birds and animals I feel in communion with nature. I feel like I belong and they belong and together we are the mind, body, spirit of the world.
I always feel calmer and happier out in nature.
Any suggestions are welcome on how to last all the way through #2.
Therese
Hey Therese,
ReplyDeleteFor the first question if you mean posting your new blog at the top of your page, I just click on new post and it posts the new blog at the top of the others.
I have to agree with you on the length of the second exercise on the c.d. I did find it a bit long to try and follow after a long day of work and household choirs. I tried listening to it again on saturday when I was getting ready to start my day and I found it to be much easier to listen to and follow. I still think it is to long for me at this time.
Ulaunda
Hie Theresa,
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing bad about having something that you like. I am one of those who like nature. I grew up in the country and am proud about it. I am glad that you have a side that makes you whole. Nature is very soothing and healing. I find peace and even when I get angery if I walk out all will be okay. I have hard time to sit still doing nothing, as I quickly start dosing. I have a tight schedule and when I sit idle my body thinks that it is resting time and I sleep. I will do all the exercises again as soon as I have enough time to rest and be able to meditate without sleeping half way.
Hello Therese,
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you have found peace in nature, Nature is soothings, healing and stirs depression and stress away. It is good that you have your togetherness of mind, body and spirit in the nature and this brings you to be whole. I am also nature person and I find it comforting, when I am stressed or depressed, and I walk outside then I feel releleaved and lifeted up. Prayer works wonders for me and I have many things to thank the Lord for.
I like the exercise on Loving - Kindness. I have tried to do the exercise but never finished it because I fall asleep before I complete the exercise. I can not sit still without doing anything my mind wanders to much so I have to learn to control my mind and sleeping. Keep up with the good job.