Unit 10

In Unit 3 I scored myself on my personal assessment at a 5 all around the board. Now after taking this class and really learning to use the tools given to me and practice, I feel like my psychological, spiritual and mental well being is about at a 8 or 8 and a half. It has greatly improved and with anything, "practice makes perfect." The goal set for me was to meditate on a daily basis,which I have not done daily, but try and stop every day and sit in quiet, be still. This class has been rewarding in all three areas and I feel like I have grown as a spiritual being. 
Angie 

Unit 9 FINAL

As health and wellness professionals it is our responsibility to take charge of our own integral health. Through our daily practice we may stabilize our mind and open our heart, we visit stillness and motivation for brief moments. Only through integral practices and an expanded consciousness may we support our inner development. By psychologically developing through expanded consciousness we transcend the emotional wounds from childhood, and beliefs that may change our efforts. Using mental training and subtle consciousness we may provide clarity and wisdom for our own success. When we transform ourselves from previous ailments and use the potential of body to mind to spirit we may abandon all previous ailments and embrace what abilities we have the potential to have. Physically training our minds and bodies using methods such as tai chi, mental training and meditation practices, they harmonize the mind/body and spirit (Dacher, 2006).

My own personal health in each domain has greatly changed since starting this class, improving mostly spiritually and physically. Although, I am still working on the psychological aspects of healing for an integral life, and trying to use them on a daily basis to subtle my mind and thoughts and create positive thought patterns and processes. I continually use mediation practices such as yoga and breathing for relaxing and healing the minds.

Goals for myself in each practice include:

Physically: continuing to do yoga and contemplative practice to ensure more harmonizing of mind/body/spirit.

Psychologically: when I realize that there are moments of discouragement, and that’s ok. But continuing to have positive emotions such as courage, creativity, patience, discipline and confidence will help to strengthen my character and keep my traits fueled by practice.

Spiritually: by expanding my consciousness and using mental training and consciousness, this provides areas for space, clarity, wisdom and attention (Dacher, 2006).

Strategies for fostering physical growth may be to continue to use contemplative practices such as yoga and meditation for stilling the mind. Psychospiritual development may include using methods such as the witnessing mind practice and the calm-abiding practice, becoming more familiar with our thoughts, feelings and images. And lastly becoming aware of our spirit and soul, an expanded consciousness strengthens our capacity for attention and using the practice universal-loving kindness, our capacity for empathy, generosity and emotional intimacy is heightened (Dacher, 2006).

Angie

Reference:

Dacher, E. (2006). Integral Health: The path to human flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA. Basic Health Publications.  

Unit 8

By fostering "mental fitness", using different practices on a daily basis can make for an integral life. 
The witnessing mind exercise allowed for me to personally calm my mind and quite all the "chatter" I have going on in my head. Our attention is continually pulled toward the chatter and by calming our thoughts we can allow for space and freedom from all the chatter.
The calm-abiding mind was really helpful in allowing for my thoughts and mind being still, to be tamed and subdued. By abiding in the stillness rather than the turmoil I found that I had less stress, I felt more peace, and loving-kindness towards others. I became present in the time (Dacher, 2006).
Using these practices can allow for me to slow-down on a daily basis and enjoy the wonderful life I have, and more importantly, enjoy my family with a still mind, body and spirit. 
Angie H.

Reference:
Dacher, E. (2006). Integral Health: the path to human flourishing. Basic Health publications. Laguna Beach, CA. 

Unit 7 subtle mind

The Asclepius form of healing = the subtle mind. This form of healing uses visualization to access our inner healer. By using this exercise we may think if happy times, place and people. By leading by example, such as leading a life of wholeness, mind/body and spirit we can help our clients practice what we do. We can not teach others the rules if we don't know them!
As a wellness professional, knowing these practices of mind/body/spirit will allow for me to see it through their eyes, understand more on their level.
Angie


Reference:

Dacher, E. (2006). Integral Health: The path to human flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA. Basic Health Publications.

UNIT 6 Intimacy and spiritual union

The Universal loving-kindness and Integral assessment exercises were very interesting! Doing the Loving kindness exercise really gave me some insight into how I can relate to others, specifically my husband and children on a daily basis. Expressing empathy, happiness and kindness may allow for me to open my heart and mind and engage in emotional intimacy. Even though I have been married for 5 years I really can have problems with emotional intimacy, feeling, seeing, caring for one another is hard sometimes in a busy, two working parent household. But realizing that it just takes a moment.
Using the integral assessment allowed for me to take time in the quiet, the stillness of my home, to focus on growth and development is critical.
Both exercises really opened my eyes to relationships and happiness (which I am not an expert on by any means :0))

Angie

Unit 5 (early post) :)))))

SUBTLE MIND VS. LOVING-KINDNESS:

Really the two practices work interchangeably to develop our minds, body and spirit. Although the Subtle mind practice gives an opportunity to observe how the mind works with mental movements (Dacher, 2006).
The loving-kindness practice seems to focus on healing through forgiveness and loving kindness.
Mental and physical wellness are similar in that our nervous system is our mobile messenger and we it goes back and forth from mind to body and back again. So the correlation between the two is similar and can help us teach our mind to achieve goals physically as well.
Using Yoga for me is a mind-body practice that I try and use daily, for relaxation and to bring myself more in touch with mind/body. It is relaxing and after words I feel stretched, relaxed, calm, and at peace.

Reference:

Dacher, E. (2006). Integral medicine: the path to human flourishing. Basic health publications. 

Unit 4 revised

I hope you can read this I was having issues with my last blog?!

The exercise this week was very calming and I loved the music and the sound of the ocean waves. It reminds me of one of our favorite vacation spots in Oregon, Manzanita. It was very helpful listening to this mp3 while I was reading and doing school work, and actually I have recommended it to a friend already.

The concept of this exercise seems to be to gain more mental clarity, relaxing, reducing "mind clutter" and freeing ourselves from harsh feelings we may harbor towards ourselves or others. By doing this exercise we may release negative emotions and foster more positive ones.