All of the exercises, practice sessions and concepts that we
have learned have been helpful to me, including using loving-kindness, training
the subtle mind, using visualization, practicing meditation, Qigong and energy,
health as defined by different cultures and peoples, yoga, patience,
forgiveness and finding purpose and spirituality in life everyday. I am a Health Science major who chose Health
Science after contemplating Cultural Anthropology. I like people and anything to do with understanding
them. In almost three years of
Kaplan classes, this course (Creating Wellness: Psychological and Spiritual
Aspects of Healing) has been my very favorite. I have completely enjoyed it.
When I think back on all of the concepts that we have
touched on, I feel that the subtle mind and learning about the four aspects of
integral health have been the most beneficial to me. These two concepts I had never heard of before. I have practiced “health” as I knew
it. I eat well. I practice yoga and meditation. But, those two concepts really opened
my mind to the depth of holistic wellness.
The subtle mind exercise showed me how profound and powerful
the mind is. It helped me
understand what I can and cannot control as well as how much I can control my
body. Even the physical heartbeat,
the racing breaths and the anxiety I feel can be relaxed to a great degree
though simply focusing on letting the rushing thoughts come and dissolve away
into nothing. I imagine and ocean
with waterfalls crashing into it and I go to the center and deep underwater and
feel the calming power of the mass of water. That image and the idea of the subtle mind enable me to
cherish my inner peace and use it for the health of my whole being.
The four aspects of integral health were also very
beneficial to me.
I knew about these aspects but I did not know the importance of balancing them
and developing them. I liked
assessing my personal growth in each area. I learned what areas I need to develop more and which ones I
could relax with. I know feel
great about deciding that a massage and family time can replace gym time and my
health will not decrease! The
other day, I practiced yoga, got a massage and meditated about a friend. I felt amazing! What I am trying to say is that
understanding that health is holistic helps me be aware of all four areas of
myself (psychospiritual, biological, worldly and interpersonal) and where I am
in this life.
Steph
Steph
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