The mental fitness exercise this week works on your Subtle Mind. This exercise is a little bit different from last week’s exercise; Loving Kindness.
I found this exercise to much easier and more relaxing than the Loving Kindness exercise. Both are very relaxing exercises and are great for helping to relieve stress. However; I found the man’s voice to be very frustrating in the beginning of the exercises. For some reason it was even more frustrating in this exercise. He uses a very “monotone” voice and I just couldn’t wait for him to stop talking!
I was very pleased when the woman started to speak and became very relaxed when I started the breathing exercises. It is so relaxing to just be able to take slow deep breaths in and out. I almost fell asleep until she started talking again :) This is so far the best exercise I have come across!
There is definitely a connection between spiritual wellness to mental and physical wellness. I find that in my own personal life that when I feel stressed out, I usually confide in my husband, pray, or I listen to music. I find that when I confide in my husband I am able to “get things off my chest” and it makes me feel better spiritually, mentally, and physically. I also pray and listen to music because it helps to “clear my mind” and when I feel better in the inside, then I also feel better on the outside. I have been running now for over 3 months and I am going to be starting a new exercise called the “INSANITY” workout. I am sure many of you have heard of it. I decided to do this work out because it is a challenge that I want to be able to conquer for myself!!
I have discovered that when I meet my goals, then I not only feel good spiritually and mentally, but also physically:)
Sara DeSanto
Hi Sara!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you brought up when the woman started to speak. At first, there wasn't any background music, water, etc., then the woman spoke and the water and flute music started. I like the background noise - I think water is very relaxing. I'm glad you brought up setting/meeting goals. I don't spend enough time in a day, let alone a week, taking time to meditate and quiet myself. We are all so busy and peace is a crucial element to mental and physical well-being. And, those Insanity workouts are just that! Props to you for taking on that challenge. I am doing the P90X right now. That's all the challenge I can handle right now!
Cheers!
Rebecca Ott
Rebecca,
DeleteI also agree with you that the music was so relaxing to me; I just pictured myself laying on a nice sunning beach :) Thank you for the motivation to start my INSANITY work out! I can't wait to start it! It is great that you are doing the P90x; it is also a very hard work out to do; good luck with your work out! :)
Sara DeSanto
Sara DeSanto,
ReplyDeleteIt’s interesting how different personalities or approaches can resonate with us all differently. I actually really liked the guy’s voice in the loving kindness and subtle mind exercise; however I could not stand the guys voice in our very first exercise about the rainbow colors.
I completely agree with you about how stress is a good example to show how the spirit, mind, and body are connected. Stress can contribute to heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States. It seems that if we took a mind, body, spirit approach to health and wellness that stress could be reduced, which would reduce heart disease, some cancers, as well as behaviors such as drugs and alcohol that lead to other diseases.
I think it’s so ironic that the class you will be taking is call the insanity work out. I hope that it actually bring you sanity. I was wondering what you meant by meeting goals makes you feel good mentally, spiritually, and physically. Were you referring to physical goals surrounding exercise, or were you referring to goals in general? I enjoyed your post.
Sacha
Sacha,
ReplyDeleteIt is ironic that the program is called "Insanity"! It is called that because it brings "Insane/crazy" results in 60 days. My husband and I decided to do this for a few reasons; 1. It is a challenge, 2. We are ready to be healthier and 3. It is another goal that I want to accomplish for myself. When I talk about goals, I mean goals not only physically, but in my entire life.
I think I did first start realizing my true potential when I started running about 3 months ago and I made it all the way to the lake and back (2.14) miles without stopping :) I realized at that point, then I can do it if I just put my mind to it! I have also been able to meet other goals such as: Starting college and will graduate from Kaplan this December with my BA degree. Then my next goal I want to go to PA school and graduate in the next 3 years! So, I think everytime you are able to set a goal and meet it, it helps you either physically, mentally, or spiritually depending on that goal :)
Thanks!
Sara DeSanto
Hi Sara,
ReplyDeleteI actually found the loving-kindness exercise easier for me to do, but with more practice I am sure the subtle mind exercise will become easier and I will like doing it more than I do at present.
Congrats to you on your running accomplishment and good luck with the "Insanity" work out. I have thought about attempting the "Insanity" work out, but have not done so yet as I had other things on my list that I wanted to accomplish first.
Congratulations on your graduation from Kaplan this upcoming December with your BA degree. Which degree plan are you pursuing? I agree that when we set goals and work toward meeting that goal that it does help us physically, mentally, or spiritually, depending on the particular situation and circumstances.
Good Luck!
Cherri Looney
Hi Sara,
ReplyDeleteI found this unit exercise much easier than the last one. The more I practice the easier it gets. I also think the time of day and our surroundings makes a difference too. I have to wait to do the exercises after my kids have gone to bed. It has to be quiet in the house. I try to do the exercises just before I go to bed for the night. I have found that it helps me sleep better at night. I was not sleeping well and now it is much better. Congrats on you upcoming graduation. I will complete my bachelor degree in May 2013. One more year and I will complete this part of the journey. Setting goals is so important. I believe writing them down also helps us to see the progress. We have to look at our progress and not our lack of perfection.
Donna
I agree with you at first I found it to be hard to listen to the voice and then when you get into the sound of the ocean it made me feel much better at listening to the voice like it better when it got quite. Love and Kindness is the one that I got the most out of and enjoyed the feeling of love is the one everyone can relate to.
ReplyDeleteLisa
Sara,
ReplyDeleteI found some of the relaxation techniques helpful but I too had to struggle due to the monotone voice of the person narrating the exercise. I am a former Marine and somehow monotone just takes sometime getting adjusted to. I found the techniques very useful this week though. Also, I read that you are going to do the insanity workouts. Awesome, now there's a stress reliever. I heard those workouts are strenous but effective because of muscle confusion. Best of luck and I know you will be successful. At least you are starting off right with your mental fitness. I will now always use the mind/body strategy to my workouts. I started last week and it was a great way to focus and drown out others who are distractions.
Sara,
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed your post regarding this week's exercise comparison. I thought it was interesting to find someone who liked this assignment better than last week's. I was in the opposite position. I found the Subtle Mind practice to be more difficult. My mind kept wandering and it was frustrating to find it so challenging. (It's tougher than doing push-ups and burpees).
I did, however, completely agree with you about the voice issues. I thought I was being irrational to find the male's voice uncomfortable. I kept telling myself to get used to it because it may be a while before he stops talking. Imagine the relief when the woman's voice began! :) On a side note, I believe the male voice in, in fact the voice of Dacher. I may be wrong. I'll have to check into that.
Prayer, music and physical exercise are BIG stress relievers for me. When I fail to keep up with anyone of the three...it shows. I am eating differently (poorly), more moody, and less engaged in life. I hope you have all the success you hope for in reaching your goals with INSANITY...I want to know how it is because I hope to "get crazy" in about three to six months...doing P90X next month. Insanity will be next!
Good Luck and God Bless You and your family,
Melissa Rasberry