Unit 10: Summary and well being

1. Unit three seems like eons ago.   Although my scores would be very similar to what they were before with the exception of spiritual where I think I have moved from an 8 to a 9.  I think I have moved in a positive direction thanks to meditation and visualization.   I feel like I can commune with nature and my inner spiritual self in a whole new level.   I would like it to grow more but I really need to have more time to dedicate to these activities that I simply do not have at the moment.  Physically I am the same, and I am healing fast from my sprained ankle. Psychologically I still struggle because I think too much, again I will get there but this too will take some time.
2. My goals are still the same where I need to let the heat of the moment pass before I respond.   I realize now this is not only when I am anger but also when I am feeling like a comedian.  Unfortunately I am funniest at the wrong times.   This is a new realization for me so I have to really work on it.  I have made some small progress but not enough for me to be pleased with.  Remembering to breath is the biggest part when I am in a moment where an immediate response seems the best path, which it almost never is.
3. Since I sprained my ankle in the middle of this quarter I must get back to my old exercise habits fast.   I have started back to running but the need for cross training is even greater now.   I need to get back into the habit that I had started in the beginning of this quarter of meditating each evening until I fall asleep.   It worked so well I have no excuse for why I stopped.  That is my new goal.  I will work on bedtime meditation.
4. I love the way I feel when I meditate.  I know it works for my aches and pains both physical and mental.  I really like how I have combined visualization exercises with running.  I look forward even more so to running then I ever have before.  I am not afraid of the little pains that will crop up on the long runs.   I have learned tools to cope with chronic pain that can help so many people.  I can honestly sing the praises of these activities without being a hypocrite.   Now I cannot say the same for guided imagery.   I am not a fan in the slightest.  I could tell people to try it but if I tell them it does not work for me then that just does not seem right.  If I tell them that I alter it to suit my needs then they may try to prematurely and have less then expected results.   This is a huge struggle for me.   My final conclusion is I will give it as an option without any input.

This was long and drawn out.  I hope you all the best of health in the future and in your own journeys.

Smiles

Kristie

Unit 8-- Getting Better!

            I have enjoyed most if not all practices once I modify them, of course.   I just can’t seem to enjoy the practice if a person is telling me what to do.   So I do listen, memorize, then practice on my terms, and this is where my journey begins.   So far the two I seem to repeat most often is Loving Kindness and Visualization.  I could say meditation too but that is second nature to me now so I don’t think that really applies to this question.

            Loving Kindness has helped me be more caring for others and a little less egotistical.  I hate to admit that but unfortunately it is true, I am very self-centered.   Loving Kindness is helping me, at a frustratingly slow pace, to help and care for others on terms other then my own or for my own benefit.   I love to help others don’t misunderstand me, but what I am learning to do is help with true love and compassion from an inner space I had not know was even there.

            Visualization is a wonderful tool for me as I run.   I can draw on strengths from my friends who are runners to get me to the end of the training run or the finish line.   I feel a freedom while watching them run with my minds eye.  I can see myself run in the visually beautiful way in which they do.   I do feel like I am the clumsy girl who is chugging along with cinderblocks for feet.    I can see myself feeling less pain and going farther, gliding like a graceful gazelle to the finish line regardless if it has been 3 miles or 13 miles.  

            While in the practice I feel totally connected with all aspects of me mind-body-spirit.   The feeling is very close to the famed “runners high,” but what is cooler is this lasts longer for me then the runners high.   That alone will keep me motivated to continue. 

Smiles

Kristie  

Unit 7 Meeting Aesclepius

I had to try twice to get the meeting Aesclepius training to work for me.   I have to say the first time I was more irritated and frustrated afterwards.  I was sitting in a quiet place trying to focus and nothing.  I am sure my crabby attitude at the time did not help either I felt the beams of light were annoying and took away from the experience.   So I put it aside and waited until this morning.

            Now todays experience was much better and more beneficial for me.  I, of course, did not sit but I found I was in my natural element and could focus better.  I was actually in a 5K-road race.   I was able to gain control of my breathing and my pace while I focused on my person, who by the way is a great runner and a wonderful friend!   I used the beams of light to increase my motivation from the head and as I moved down the body each beam was directed at improving my race ability and my inner peace.  I was surprised that this focus kept the normal pains away and my sprained ankle was nonexistent.   Before I knew it I went through the meditation 3 times and the race was over.  I did not stay as long on each part as in the exercise but I moved at a pace that worked for me.  I will use this in all my future races because it did help so much with my breathing, mental focus, and pace.

           

Describe the saying: "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself" (p.477). 

       The saying is so true.  I would not listen to someone who has never run before giving me tips on how to run.   I will and do cling to the words of people who I feel are great runners.  I see them at a lot of my races and see their accomplishments.   I feel that I am far enough along where I too can give valuable information to others when it is concerning running, also health and wellness.  I have transformed my body and mental attitude to fit into this area.   I feel we do have a responsibility to the people who we try to assist to be focused and have a trained mind so as to truly listen to them and have the patience to help them.   If we are not centered in our own mind-body-spirit it seems to me that we are living a falsehood that could in the end hinder another’s progress.  As long as I am able to find the time and energy to run I will be able to maintain my focus on the three aspects which is a goal that I can see being met.   Even through my most recent injury I was able to stay focused during my down time to keep on top of mind body and spirit.   

Smiles

Kristie

Mudathlon... results...

Hey People!
 I did it!!  I recovered enough to participate in the Mudathlon and it was so much fun!

My Results!

1066 out of 3835 total participants
53 our of 351 ladies in my age bracket
345 out of 2045 ladies all ages.

Go me!   Next year will be better!  
Smiles and Stay Active!
Kristie

Unit 6: Loving Kindness and Assessment

I chose an odd place to attempt my Loving Kindness meditation exercise this week.  It was more successful then I would have ever have imagined possible given the location and sheer number of people surrounding me.  Here is what happened.  I was entering the line to wait an hour and 45 minutes for the Maverick, a rollercoaster at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio.   I had just read the assignment and since I was waiting alone I figured I would give it a try.  I had to keep my eyes open while I cleared my mind and set my body on autopilot to move when the line did.   I occasionally did hear people complain about the wait and the length of the line so I would refocus on the phrases.   I felt myself sending out the good vibes and was so relaxed.   The wait time actually flew by for me.  Just before I was going to split off of the main line for the single rider line a fellow in front of me turned and started talking about how pleasant he felt and surprised the line moved so quickly.   It was very surreal to say the least.  Later that day while driving home I was still repeating the phrases when truck driver waved and smiled.  Again it may have been a fluke but it felt different for me.   I discovered I could send out positive messages and others will feel them, which is so incredibly cool. 

            Moving on to the areas that I need to focus on for growth is my interpersonal and worldly.   I am a shy person even with my family at times even more so in the community.  When I am in a relaxed state I notice I can relate better to my family and friends.  I need to stop relating everything about them through the “me” filters, which does not allow me to see them as they are.  I know this is happening and it frustrates me because I know I need to stop.   Like with all the other exercises I have to stop, clear my mind, and open myself to that person.  I know how to do it I cannot explain or figure out why it is so hard to do and at sometimes seems impossible.  I can only make a conscious effort to practice and train everyday. As soon as I become more comfortable in this area I know it will ease frustrations for all who are closest to me and open many doors for both the interpersonal and worldly aspects of my life. 

Smiles

Kristie

Power point unit 5 Mental Fitness

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-bkEDZSL60RUl9YdUFsMzRQS1E/edit

Hopefully this will work.
Smiles
Kristie S.

Unit 5 Subtle Mind Exercise

1. Compare and contrast the Loving Kindness exercise and the Subtle mind exercise. Explain your experience including the benefits, frustrations etc.

      To be honest it has been a while since I last did the Loving Kindness exercise.  I did not care for it.  That being said every single time someone has annoyed me to the point of my getting angry it literally pops into my mind.  I breathe in the angry and annoyed feelings and exhale the Loving Kindness I learned to help me be more pleasant to those who are bugging me.   For the Subtle Mind practice I really enjoyed the focus on me, and not having to think about others.   I was so relaxed that like usual I fell asleep. I try my best to stay awake but then thoughts do creep in and I have to start all over.  I wonder if I am really sleeping or if I am just so relaxed that my mind is so clear I cannot tell the difference?   I am hoping it is the later.

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

      I think, for me at least, when I allow stress to get to a point that I cannot real it back in it does affect all areas of my being: spiritual, body, and mind.   It is always stress that throws me off kilter.  If I do not address it at the onset it will eat and eat and eat until I am a wreck. I have found for me that if I start doing a physical exercise that requires focus, breathe work, and personal space I will feel like a new person after I am done.   While I workout I do not think of each area of the mind, body, and spirit, they just seem to know it what part is for them.  I let go and let each do it’s thing.  It is sometimes hard when the stress is very bad, like today, to want to get up and start to exercise.  I know as soon as I do I feel better, my homework will show better results, and I will be less cranky.  That being said, it is time to get up and get moving.  I still have to get to the power point. 

Stay healthy my friends!

Smiles

Kristie