Seems the the powerpoint presentation has to be saved as a 'ppt' file as opposed to 'ppx'. When I re-saved the file, some of the graphics moved and covered the text. Sorry, I tried a few times to correct this, but the formatting keeps changing it. Hope you enjoy it.
Thanks,
Briana
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Loving-Kindness and the Subtle Mind
Welcome to week 5
Boo-Yah, Baby! I did a meditation without falling asleep! This is a first for me!
Last week's meditation on loving-kindness didn't go so well as wasn't able to focus for any length of time. I've tried it again a few times; each time in shorter sessions. I'm at 5 minutes right now and that seems to be limit. So for now it's about the quality of the meditation, not the quantity.
The Subtle Mind exercise in comparison was significantly easier. I was able to concentrate on , my breathing and not feel harried or agitated. My mind wandered a lot during the exercise as well, but I was able to bring it back again and focus once more on the breath. I found it helped me to count in sets of 5 with each inhalation and each exhalation. My mind wandered less, maybe because I was focused on the counting.
Overall, I found the subtle mind exercise much easier and more fulfilling. I'm going to keep practicing the loving kindness meditation however. I've obviously got some issue or other that is keeping me from success with that one.
It seems to me that the more cultivated one's mind can be, the easier it becomes to handle the physical world. With this cultivation also comes an ease of mind that encourages great inner peace or spirituality. All three concepts work in tandem with each other and when one is out of balance it throws the other two off as well.
To manifest the necessary balance in my own life, I've had to take up Tai Chi. After an earlier exericse where we identified areas to work on, I realized that I had nothing in my life to further my spirit. I can't say yet that it has made a difference. I have to concentrate on the instructions which make concentrating on my thoughts difficult. However, the instructor says that in time the movements will become second nature and thoughts can then be turned inward for introspection. Until then, I'm taking pleasure in an activity that allows me to consciously focus on something besides the day to day hassles.
Boo-Yah, Baby! I did a meditation without falling asleep! This is a first for me!
Last week's meditation on loving-kindness didn't go so well as wasn't able to focus for any length of time. I've tried it again a few times; each time in shorter sessions. I'm at 5 minutes right now and that seems to be limit. So for now it's about the quality of the meditation, not the quantity.
The Subtle Mind exercise in comparison was significantly easier. I was able to concentrate on , my breathing and not feel harried or agitated. My mind wandered a lot during the exercise as well, but I was able to bring it back again and focus once more on the breath. I found it helped me to count in sets of 5 with each inhalation and each exhalation. My mind wandered less, maybe because I was focused on the counting.
Overall, I found the subtle mind exercise much easier and more fulfilling. I'm going to keep practicing the loving kindness meditation however. I've obviously got some issue or other that is keeping me from success with that one.
It seems to me that the more cultivated one's mind can be, the easier it becomes to handle the physical world. With this cultivation also comes an ease of mind that encourages great inner peace or spirituality. All three concepts work in tandem with each other and when one is out of balance it throws the other two off as well.
To manifest the necessary balance in my own life, I've had to take up Tai Chi. After an earlier exericse where we identified areas to work on, I realized that I had nothing in my life to further my spirit. I can't say yet that it has made a difference. I have to concentrate on the instructions which make concentrating on my thoughts difficult. However, the instructor says that in time the movements will become second nature and thoughts can then be turned inward for introspection. Until then, I'm taking pleasure in an activity that allows me to consciously focus on something besides the day to day hassles.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Loving-Kindness Meditation
Week 4...... Yeah!
And this week's meditation...Loving-Kindness! Was it difficult and/or beneficial???? Well, once again I fell asleep, but the second time around I finished it with mixed feelings. Okay, this one nearly killed me. I don't know if it was the length or the silences or something else, but I couldn't stay relaxed. I'd start to relax and feel Zen-like and the speaker would interrupt with the next directions. As for beneficial.... The meditation itself I didn't find beneficial at all. I was more frazzled than relaxed when it was over. However, the concept is very beneficial. I did the meditation 3 days ago and have found that I'm conscious of my attitude and what I'm sending out there into the cosmic universe. And while it seem somewhat silly, on the times when I've become frustrated, angry, or irritated, I've silently chanted 'loving-kindness. . . loving kindness". It seems to help.
Would I recommend this to others? I would recommend to others. Maybe they'll come away from it with a deeper understanding of themselves or others. Or maybe like me, the difference will be noticed later. If the meditations can help them in any way, I'd recommend them without question.
What is a mental workout? These would be workouts to calm the mind and bring perspectives into clear and concise views. Meditations and relaxation exercises are mental workouts. Research has shown that exercises that enable the mind to bring order to the chaos or mental chatter, extends it every day life. This is important because having a cluttered mind is a bit like driving a car with no idea where you're going. And if you have no idea where you are going, you know where you might end up!
Week 4 Tip:
We're about a few weeks to 1 month from cherry season! Yum! As we go into Spring, try to take advantage of all the beautiful producs that will shortly be available. Fresh fruits and veggies offer some great health benefits and they taste good. So if you've forgotten what it tastes like to eat fruit or the las time you had a potato it was fried, the time has come to try again. If you're up for a challenge . . . see if you can eat one new fruit or veggie each week. You'll be amazed by what's out there and hopefully find a new treat to enjoy!
Eat well for All of you
Briana
And this week's meditation...Loving-Kindness! Was it difficult and/or beneficial???? Well, once again I fell asleep, but the second time around I finished it with mixed feelings. Okay, this one nearly killed me. I don't know if it was the length or the silences or something else, but I couldn't stay relaxed. I'd start to relax and feel Zen-like and the speaker would interrupt with the next directions. As for beneficial.... The meditation itself I didn't find beneficial at all. I was more frazzled than relaxed when it was over. However, the concept is very beneficial. I did the meditation 3 days ago and have found that I'm conscious of my attitude and what I'm sending out there into the cosmic universe. And while it seem somewhat silly, on the times when I've become frustrated, angry, or irritated, I've silently chanted 'loving-kindness. . . loving kindness". It seems to help.
Would I recommend this to others? I would recommend to others. Maybe they'll come away from it with a deeper understanding of themselves or others. Or maybe like me, the difference will be noticed later. If the meditations can help them in any way, I'd recommend them without question.
What is a mental workout? These would be workouts to calm the mind and bring perspectives into clear and concise views. Meditations and relaxation exercises are mental workouts. Research has shown that exercises that enable the mind to bring order to the chaos or mental chatter, extends it every day life. This is important because having a cluttered mind is a bit like driving a car with no idea where you're going. And if you have no idea where you are going, you know where you might end up!
Week 4 Tip:
We're about a few weeks to 1 month from cherry season! Yum! As we go into Spring, try to take advantage of all the beautiful producs that will shortly be available. Fresh fruits and veggies offer some great health benefits and they taste good. So if you've forgotten what it tastes like to eat fruit or the las time you had a potato it was fried, the time has come to try again. If you're up for a challenge . . . see if you can eat one new fruit or veggie each week. You'll be amazed by what's out there and hopefully find a new treat to enjoy!
Eat well for All of you
Briana
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Wellness and Relaxation Exericse 2-
Well,
After some reflection my overall wellness scale looks something like this;
Physical-8
Spiritual- 5
Psychological-6
In order to improve these, I've set the following goals for myself.
*Physically, I will take a closer look at my specific nutritional needs.
*Spiritually, I will do Tai Chi once a week.
*Psychological, I will do one creative endeavor each week.
To achieve these goals:
Physically: I will keep a food diary for one week to evaluate what I'm getting compared to what I need nutritionally.
Spiritually: I have signed up for a class that fits into my schedule.
Psychologically: I will make a list of creative endeavors and try a new one each week.
As for the relaxation exercise. . . Man, they're not kidding about it being relaxing. I fell asleep again. This time in the library ( = However, I found this exercise to be refreshing. The visualizations enabled me to focus energy on varying body parts in methodical way that seemed to relax them. When I began the exercise I was very tense, sore, achy, and in general fairly uncomfortable. I was also having trouble focusing my thoughts enough to do my homework.
After the exercise, I was still sore and achy, but no longer tense. Maybe it was the quick nap I took or the break it gave my mind, but I was able to focus better afterwards.
Tip #2- We've just completed the first quarter of the new year. How many people made New Year's Resolution? How many of you have kept to it? If you've abandoned your resolution or become slack about, now is good time to reevaluate it. Ask yourself why you haven't followed through? Was your resolution reasonable and time specific? Do you really care about it now? If you asked something of yourself that wasn't reasonable, take time now to be more specific and try again. Decide if it's actually important for you. There is nothing wrong with picking a new resolution and pursuing if your previous one isn't beneficial!
Now funny as this may sound, my resolution was to make my bed every day! I know, it's not all that earth shattering, but I'm trying to practice what I preach to my kids. Sounds simple right? Well, I did great for awhile... and then for some unknown reason I stopped. As trivial as it seems, it's important to me to follow through on this... so I'm back to getting it done daily. I'm sure many of you made resolutions far more life impacting that mine, but remember FAILURE ISN'T FOREVER! At the first opportunity, try again. You'll thank yourself and be glad you did!
Have a great week and eat well for ALL of you!
Briana
After some reflection my overall wellness scale looks something like this;
Physical-8
Spiritual- 5
Psychological-6
In order to improve these, I've set the following goals for myself.
*Physically, I will take a closer look at my specific nutritional needs.
*Spiritually, I will do Tai Chi once a week.
*Psychological, I will do one creative endeavor each week.
To achieve these goals:
Physically: I will keep a food diary for one week to evaluate what I'm getting compared to what I need nutritionally.
Spiritually: I have signed up for a class that fits into my schedule.
Psychologically: I will make a list of creative endeavors and try a new one each week.
As for the relaxation exercise. . . Man, they're not kidding about it being relaxing. I fell asleep again. This time in the library ( = However, I found this exercise to be refreshing. The visualizations enabled me to focus energy on varying body parts in methodical way that seemed to relax them. When I began the exercise I was very tense, sore, achy, and in general fairly uncomfortable. I was also having trouble focusing my thoughts enough to do my homework.
After the exercise, I was still sore and achy, but no longer tense. Maybe it was the quick nap I took or the break it gave my mind, but I was able to focus better afterwards.
Tip #2- We've just completed the first quarter of the new year. How many people made New Year's Resolution? How many of you have kept to it? If you've abandoned your resolution or become slack about, now is good time to reevaluate it. Ask yourself why you haven't followed through? Was your resolution reasonable and time specific? Do you really care about it now? If you asked something of yourself that wasn't reasonable, take time now to be more specific and try again. Decide if it's actually important for you. There is nothing wrong with picking a new resolution and pursuing if your previous one isn't beneficial!
Now funny as this may sound, my resolution was to make my bed every day! I know, it's not all that earth shattering, but I'm trying to practice what I preach to my kids. Sounds simple right? Well, I did great for awhile... and then for some unknown reason I stopped. As trivial as it seems, it's important to me to follow through on this... so I'm back to getting it done daily. I'm sure many of you made resolutions far more life impacting that mine, but remember FAILURE ISN'T FOREVER! At the first opportunity, try again. You'll thank yourself and be glad you did!
Have a great week and eat well for ALL of you!
Briana
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Welcome to Bits About Bites
Hello all,
As we go forward in our wellness journey, I hope to help everyone stay centered nutritionally. So much of our reading has to do with the connection between our bodies and our minds. Sound nutrition is a key factor in physical health. And hopefully, if you feel good physically you can change the way you feel mentally and spiritually (or vice versa if need be).
My plan is to offer weekly nutritional bits and maybe a 'move it' idea to anyone who needs a little prodding or reminding as to why it's important to take care of yourself.
My experience with the the relaxation exercise was interesting. I had to do it twice as the first time I relaxed so much I fell asleep! The second time around I was able to concentrate better on focusing my thoughts on the speaker's words and directions. The first time my mind wandered quite a bit. I wasn't able to feel the warmth and heaviness he spoke of, but I was able to feel a greater pounding of blood in my neck and head as I concentrated on directing the blood to my hands and arms. I'll have to practice this exercise again and see if I can attain the heavy warmth he speaks of. Overall the exercise was enjoyable. The cadence and timbre of the voice is soothing and the music was easy to tune out to focus on his words. I'm looking forward to more of these.
Tip #1- It's Easter today! And for many people that means candy! If you can't resist it cause it calls your name at night, when you're working on dinner, while you're doing your homework.... you have my permission to THROW IT AWAY! Let the kids keep a little bit and chuck the rest. There is no nutritional value in it and for those of you who have trouble throwing food away... candy is NOT food. It is refined sugar that your body doesn't need. And if you feel you're throwing away money consider the cost to your health- physically, emotionally, and mentally. Is it worth keeping? You decide!
Have a great week and eat well for ALL of you.
Briana
As we go forward in our wellness journey, I hope to help everyone stay centered nutritionally. So much of our reading has to do with the connection between our bodies and our minds. Sound nutrition is a key factor in physical health. And hopefully, if you feel good physically you can change the way you feel mentally and spiritually (or vice versa if need be).
My plan is to offer weekly nutritional bits and maybe a 'move it' idea to anyone who needs a little prodding or reminding as to why it's important to take care of yourself.
My experience with the the relaxation exercise was interesting. I had to do it twice as the first time I relaxed so much I fell asleep! The second time around I was able to concentrate better on focusing my thoughts on the speaker's words and directions. The first time my mind wandered quite a bit. I wasn't able to feel the warmth and heaviness he spoke of, but I was able to feel a greater pounding of blood in my neck and head as I concentrated on directing the blood to my hands and arms. I'll have to practice this exercise again and see if I can attain the heavy warmth he speaks of. Overall the exercise was enjoyable. The cadence and timbre of the voice is soothing and the music was easy to tune out to focus on his words. I'm looking forward to more of these.
Tip #1- It's Easter today! And for many people that means candy! If you can't resist it cause it calls your name at night, when you're working on dinner, while you're doing your homework.... you have my permission to THROW IT AWAY! Let the kids keep a little bit and chuck the rest. There is no nutritional value in it and for those of you who have trouble throwing food away... candy is NOT food. It is refined sugar that your body doesn't need. And if you feel you're throwing away money consider the cost to your health- physically, emotionally, and mentally. Is it worth keeping? You decide!
Have a great week and eat well for ALL of you.
Briana
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)