Hello,
I have fallen behind in my postings, but I aim to get caught up soon. Before I get caught up with my back posts, I have to keep up with the current week. So this week our focus was on two exercises: Universal Loving Kindness and an Integral Assessment.
The Universal Loving Kindness exercise is very simple. First you quiet your mind and then you repeat four phrases for 10 minutes. The phrases make you think about others and ending suffering and helping find health, happiness and wholeness.
Personally, repetition of phrases does not do a whole for me. I did think about other people and especially in consideration of the recent even at Sandy Hook Elementary. I do wish that those families find peace and feel for their loss. This is where my thoughts took me during this exercise. However, I still feel like there is not a lot I can do for them. I cannot bring back thier lost loved ones, I cannot end their suffering, I can only feel for them and hope that they can cope and maybe one day it would hurt less.
The next exercise was a self reflection of your integral health, we had to determine which aspect of our life needs growth. Once that was figured out we had to ask ourselves questions based on what level we are at and what level we want to be at. For me, my interpersonal flourishing could use some growth and development. I have a great connection with my immediate family, which I consider as my husband and sons. Outside of the little circle though I can grow. I do not have the best relationship with my siblings or parents any longer. I can do more to work on those relationships. Along with my co-workers, this is another relationship that I can do more to connect on a greater level. A way I can implement wellness in this area is to be more mindful of how I am treating others.Show respect and listen more and try to understand on a deeper level rather than just at the surface.
Well, those are my thoughts on this topic. Until next time...
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Personal health status and goals
Hello again,
A goal I have after graduating is help people incorporate healthier choices in their own lives. However, before I can help others it is important to know my own health status and have my own goals that I continue to try reaching. This will help others take me seriously. That whole practice what you preach concept comes to mind. So the assignment this week: assess your own health in wellness in three areas: physical, spiritual, and psychological. Creating a goal in each area and what activities to incorporate that will help reach the goals is the second part of the assignment.
First up is my physical status. Right now, I think this needs the most work. I had a baby 9 weeks ago, so I am working to lose my baby weight. Therefore, on a scale from 1 to 10 I would rate my physical health at about a 6. I try to eat healthy and incorporate physical activity into my day but I still have not gotten the strength or the endurance back that I had pre-baby. My goal in this area is to lose the remaining 15 pounds and get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. I can do this by gradually increasing my physical activity and being able to start jogging and running again.
Ok, next subject. Psychological health. I would rate mine at an 8. I did not get the baby blues after having my son, even though there are times that can be very frustrating. I credit this to my psychological health because I know that I always "talk myself down" and "go to my happy place" when things get rough. A goal in this area is to incorporate more mental health exercises into my day. Right now, I do not practice them on a regular basis. In order to meet this goal, I can purchase CD's that have guided relaxation techniques, and maybe try yoga. This would help improve my psychological health.
Finally - spiritual health. This is the area that I am lacking the most. I would rate my spiritual health at about a 3. I am not a religious person, and many people associate spirituality in religion. However, I find hope, comfort, and inner peace in other things. I have a belief in a higher power, and I know that some things are not able to be explained and that having hope and believing in something does help; however, I do not name this power or attend public services to discuss my beliefs. A goal I have in this area would be to try different exercises that help build spiritual health. Doing this can be accomplished by finding time to meditate, or reading an inspirational book.
The other part of the assignment was to reflect on another relaxation exercise. Personally, I am not a fan of the "rainbow" exercise. I have done it before and it does not work for me as well what I thought it would. Focusing energy on a body part and trying to connect it with a color was very odd to me. Repeating a phrase over and over does not help me either.
A goal I have after graduating is help people incorporate healthier choices in their own lives. However, before I can help others it is important to know my own health status and have my own goals that I continue to try reaching. This will help others take me seriously. That whole practice what you preach concept comes to mind. So the assignment this week: assess your own health in wellness in three areas: physical, spiritual, and psychological. Creating a goal in each area and what activities to incorporate that will help reach the goals is the second part of the assignment.
First up is my physical status. Right now, I think this needs the most work. I had a baby 9 weeks ago, so I am working to lose my baby weight. Therefore, on a scale from 1 to 10 I would rate my physical health at about a 6. I try to eat healthy and incorporate physical activity into my day but I still have not gotten the strength or the endurance back that I had pre-baby. My goal in this area is to lose the remaining 15 pounds and get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. I can do this by gradually increasing my physical activity and being able to start jogging and running again.
Ok, next subject. Psychological health. I would rate mine at an 8. I did not get the baby blues after having my son, even though there are times that can be very frustrating. I credit this to my psychological health because I know that I always "talk myself down" and "go to my happy place" when things get rough. A goal in this area is to incorporate more mental health exercises into my day. Right now, I do not practice them on a regular basis. In order to meet this goal, I can purchase CD's that have guided relaxation techniques, and maybe try yoga. This would help improve my psychological health.
Finally - spiritual health. This is the area that I am lacking the most. I would rate my spiritual health at about a 3. I am not a religious person, and many people associate spirituality in religion. However, I find hope, comfort, and inner peace in other things. I have a belief in a higher power, and I know that some things are not able to be explained and that having hope and believing in something does help; however, I do not name this power or attend public services to discuss my beliefs. A goal I have in this area would be to try different exercises that help build spiritual health. Doing this can be accomplished by finding time to meditate, or reading an inspirational book.
The other part of the assignment was to reflect on another relaxation exercise. Personally, I am not a fan of the "rainbow" exercise. I have done it before and it does not work for me as well what I thought it would. Focusing energy on a body part and trying to connect it with a color was very odd to me. Repeating a phrase over and over does not help me either.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Relaxation
Hello,
Welcome to my blog. I am new to blogging, so this will be an adventure for me :) So let's start with a little bit about me. My name is Kalicia. I am attending Kaplan University to obtain my bachelors in Health and Wellness and due to graduate next September.
My life is usually very busy and is sometimes in mass chaos, like it is right now. My family and I just moved to a bigger place so we are still working on getting everything organized and still have a garage full of stuff at the old place, and massive amounts of cleaning to do. Trying to get things done with a newborn and a 5 year old in the house is next to impossible. (Hence, my schoolwork gets done at the last possible minute!) So everyday is definitely interesting!
Now, as far as this blog goes...This blog will be discussing topics surrounding health and wellness.This week as part of my coursework, we did a "Journey to Relaxation" exercise. I enjoy exercises such as these that you listen to a voice instructing you on how to relax. They always make me want to fall asleep (probably because I am lacking in that area!). As I listened to the voice, I made myself comfortable on my sofa. Ahh deep breath... Focus on relaxation...decrease muscle tension...
This worked a few minutes, but I kept getting interrupted by my newborn, who happens to be a very noisy sleeper... But a few minutes is better than none at all. Sometimes that is all I need in order to feel rejuvenated and keep going about my day. Sitting for a long period of time to try and relax is not something that I do on a regular basis because there is usually so much to do. However, a few minutes here and there is great!
Welcome to my blog. I am new to blogging, so this will be an adventure for me :) So let's start with a little bit about me. My name is Kalicia. I am attending Kaplan University to obtain my bachelors in Health and Wellness and due to graduate next September.
My life is usually very busy and is sometimes in mass chaos, like it is right now. My family and I just moved to a bigger place so we are still working on getting everything organized and still have a garage full of stuff at the old place, and massive amounts of cleaning to do. Trying to get things done with a newborn and a 5 year old in the house is next to impossible. (Hence, my schoolwork gets done at the last possible minute!) So everyday is definitely interesting!
Now, as far as this blog goes...This blog will be discussing topics surrounding health and wellness.This week as part of my coursework, we did a "Journey to Relaxation" exercise. I enjoy exercises such as these that you listen to a voice instructing you on how to relax. They always make me want to fall asleep (probably because I am lacking in that area!). As I listened to the voice, I made myself comfortable on my sofa. Ahh deep breath... Focus on relaxation...decrease muscle tension...
This worked a few minutes, but I kept getting interrupted by my newborn, who happens to be a very noisy sleeper... But a few minutes is better than none at all. Sometimes that is all I need in order to feel rejuvenated and keep going about my day. Sitting for a long period of time to try and relax is not something that I do on a regular basis because there is usually so much to do. However, a few minutes here and there is great!
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