Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Unit 8
Subtle Mind/ Meeting Aesclepius
I liked the Subtle Mind and Meeting Aesclepius meditation exercises the best. I have continued to practice these two exercises throughout this course. I feel that I will continue to practice these exercises because they really help me to relax and reduce my stress. After a long day at work or after a stressful day it is nice to sit and listen to the Subtle Mind exercise or the Meeting Aesclepius. Both of these exercises have relaxing, calming music that help me to clear my mind. I liked the Subtle Mind exercise because it allowed me to just focus on my breathing. Not thinking about anything really helps me to feel less stressed. I really liked the Meeting Aesclepius exercise in that it allowed me to focus on a loved one and positive thoughts about them. This allowed me to feel closer to this person and to see them for all the good they do and to forget about any negatives. Not everyone is perfect so this allows me to truly appreciate what each loved one does. I feel that by implementing these exercises in my daily life that I will be able to be more mindful of others, positive in my daily thoughts and actions, happier, and healthier. Setting aside time in the morning or evening to practice these exercises will allow me to work on my mental fitness. Using different techniques from these exercises throughout the day can be useful in reducing my stress such as focusing on my breathing or thinking positive thoughts.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Jennifer, I also put the Subtle Mind as one of my favorites even though I find it the most challenging especially when my mind is going a mile a minute. I am glad you are sticking with them! I've tried both morning and night practice and found them to be beneficial in different ways. After morning practice I feel positive, energized, and ready for the day. After night practice I feel a more peaceful, soothing attitude. Which do you prefer? Great work this week :)
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteGlad that you were able to find some exercises that you were able to make your own and continue to utilize. I think this class has helped me a lot to look at my health as more than a physical thing but also mental and spiritual. I can honestly say I now understand that one can only truly experience health and wellness when all the key factors are aligned. Thanks
Those were my favorites as well. Using an existing mental image and your body's breathing seemed the easiest to access for me. An added benefit is that these two methods can be used in other activities such as jogging or yoga. Good luck with your continued meditations.
ReplyDeleteCarol
It is funny, because the thought of "thinking about nothing" always had me confused before doing these exercises. I could not comprehend the idea of how you could think about absolutely nothing. I think the subtle mind exercise is really helpful in bringing your mind back to focus. I have noticed that I have gotten a lot better and I get moments where I think of nothing, which is progress. I hope to continue using these practices and develop the ability to do this for prolonged periods of time instead of short moments.
ReplyDeleteThey did not work for me, but I could see how they would work. It is hard for me to clear my mind and just relax into meditation but I am starting to a little more each time I do it. Part of it is I have a lot going on around me all the time its hard to do. Great discussion
ReplyDeleteIt's great that you found something that you can 'connect' to in the "Meeting Ascelpius" exercise! Like Sally, it wasn't one that I generally enjoyed but I did find that the "Subtle Mind" was a good fit for me. Like you though, I'm finding that I can take some of the techniques from these exercises and apply them throughout the day. That's been a pretty big revelation for me, that I don't have to sit in a corner for an hour in order for these exercises to be effective. I can work on them throughout the day, which is great!
ReplyDelete