We have learned a lot through this course and I would personally say that it is all beneficial. Going back through everything we have done and all the practices I could easily say that all of them would have benefits if performed daily. However, there are some that I enjoyed more and would like to do daily.
The first is the Loving-Kindness practice. I really enjoyed this practice and I would continue to do the exercise that Dacher has in the Integral Health book. Dacher states that with our preparations completed our heart and mind will be softened and we will be ready to explore further reaches of psychospiritual development, (Integral Health, pg. 69). By doing this we open ourselves up to many more developments and we gain the possibility to change the course of our health and life, (Dacher). Loving-kindness will open us to a shift in thinking; we will stop thinking about ourselves and we will begin to think of others. The change will start small we will think more of those that we love but then we will start to think of the world.
The second practice I enjoyed is not so much a practice but a change in the way I live my life through biological flourishing. I found this section to be very important because our physical health and mental health combined are essential to a thriving life. Our integral path must include an effort to improve physical health and mental health together. Dacher, 2006, states, "If even a small percentage of the resources spent on physical fitness were applied to mind/body activities, we would see a considerable gain in our society's general level of health," (Integral Health, pg. 81). There are many activities that we can do to encourage the mind/body development and they include tai chi, qigong, and yoga. Personally, I find that yoga is a great activity to do. Whenever I do even a few minutes I feel refreshed and at ease plus I get physical benefits. It is hard for me to go to a place to work out so I do it from my house so I would do the same things with yoga. There are many dvds that I can access. Most libraries carry a decent selection of workout videos so I can test them out before I buy.
Implementing these changes will only bring me closer to an integral path of healing. The change is not going to be easy but as Dacher says, start small and simple. We don't have to make drastic changes; we need to do what we can when we can.
Nicole
*Dacher, 2006, Integral Health, Basic Health Publications, pg. 69, 81
Hi Nicole,
ReplyDeleteI knows what you are going through this day as we manage our crazy lives with family and work. Aslo, I really like the practice that Dacher mention about loving-kindness that we should love those people who are closer to you as well as the immediate circle of friends. It takes me a while to figure who I really admit this day.
One of the thing that I would do was to find a comfortable place and practice mediation where I closed my eyes and visual that I am not there and counted to 100 for three times.
Hey Nicole,
ReplyDeleteGreat choices. I also felt those exercises to be beneficial to me as well. I also agree with you, that biological flourishing is important. I like that you chose that instead of a certain exercise. Its hard for me as well to work out at a gym, so i invested my money into some exercise equipment for my house, and I do all my work outs at home. It saves me time and money in the long run. Plus I can watch my son instead of putting him in daycare again at the gym. Almost the end of unit 8, YAY :)
Jamie