Final project (unit 9)

I.  Introduction: 
Why is it important for health and wellness professionals to develop psychologically, spiritually and physically? What areas do you need to develop to achieve the goals you have for yourself?

Usually people want to pursuit those professionals who succeeded and dedicated their life to health and wellness. In order for one to be successful one should be well developed in all aspects of life, i.e. psychological, spiritual and physical health. If you are not well establish then, who is going to want to follow you? An area that I would like to develop would be, my spirituality as well as my body image. I don’t attend church but I pray and now I meditate! I don’t consider myself religious, but I am a spiritual person. I would like to really get down to all of that and feel good about it. My body image is terrible. I exercise but it’s like pulling teeth at times!

II. Assessment: 
How have you assessed your health in each domain? How do you score your wellness spiritually, physically, and psychologically?

Upon assess my physical health I would give myself an eight. I of course love to loose about 30 pounds (not to be skinny, but to be healthy!). I have a constant heal pain and knee pain; I know is from my weight because I have lost the weight before and the pain went away! I love to run and I love to drink water. My plan is to incorporate more water and get my but up in the morning and run!

I would assess my psychological health a nine. I am very good at dealing with stressful situations, but at times I get out of hand and loose control. I think it only normal but there is always room for improvement. I feel like meditation might be just the right push to be a big 10!

My spiritual health would be in the low 6. I consider myself a spiritual person; I respect all religions and think that they are all great! I would like to become more in tune with the higher being, I hear wonderful things about it and why not?

III.            Goal development: 
List at least one goal you have for yourself in each area, Physical, Psychological (mental health) and Spiritual.

One of the goals I have for my physical development is to run a 5K by this fall! This means I can’t be a slacker and not run! I have to increase my runs and incorporate long running days with short distances during the week. By doing this I would hope to loose the weight, I am so anxious to loose. Not only would I look better, but I will feel so much better as well.

My psychological goal is to become a member of a NY Shambhala center and learn to meditate! I’m dragging my husband to it as well and I hope to enjoy it!

My spiritual goal is to learn through meditation to focus on my connection of “God”.  I am at a point in my life where I have a great desire to connect with something bigger than myself. I also help that the meditation classes in NYC would guide me in the right direction.

IV.         Practices for personal health: 
What strategies can you implement to foster growth in each of the following domains; Physical, Psychological, and Spiritual. Provide at least two examples of exercises or practices in each domain. Explain how you will implement each example.

For my physical development goal, I will increase the number of running days as well as the distance. I will increase it from two days to four days and two miles to three miles. I will increase my water intake, decrease my carbs and increase my protein slightly.  I would also love to see me doing some weight lifting, but one step at a time!

For my psychological goal I plan to attend the NY Shambhala Center on Sundays or Wednesdays. They have a beginner’s meditation class for only $10! It a bit out of my way, but I think it will be worth it.

For my spiritual goal I hope to be able to become more in tune with my spiritual side through my mediation. I also plan on meeting people there and surround myself with like-minded people.

V.           Commitment: 
How will you assess your progress or lack of progress in the next six months? What strategies can you use to assist in maintaining your long-term practices for health and wellness?

Well, for my physical goals I would of definitely run my 5K and if I had not, then reassess what went wrong and come up with a better plan. If my weight keeps giving me physical problems, then I will consult with a dietician and come up with a plan of action before medication is need.

For my Psychological goal, it would have to be if journaling and to keep going to classes. Maybe if all is well, I could sign myself to one of those retreats they look like so much fun! If this class does not work out then I will find a program that fits me.

For my spirituality, I hope that through meditation I can become more spiritual, if I don’t see of feel myself growing in this department. Then I would reassess and come up with a better plan. Maybe, going back to my roots of attending church more often.

Unit 8

Review the exercises and practice sessions you have completed in this course. (Loving Kindness, Subtle mind, Visualization, meditation etc.) Choose two practices that you have determined to be most beneficial. How can you implement these practices in your personal life to foster “mental fitness”? Provide specific examples.

I chose this course because I really wanted to learn to meditate and I can honestly say that it has been a great experience thus far. Throughout this course I have been practicing the meditative exercises and practices, the recordings have been the most beneficial. Visualization and the loving kindness are the most I was able to identify the most with. The loving-kindness exercise encourages to simply to love others as well as myself. This can only be a great thing and it has been. The visualization exercise is also very beneficial because it allows me to visualize what and where I want to be in my life. This is absolutely wonderful, I have been doing this for a long time and it works for me.

I am not implementing these practices as much as I would like but I practice it at least twice a week. I usually incorporate the exercises during my brake, as I stated before I have it on my iTunes on my iPhone to be more readily available to me.

Unit 7

1. Complete the Meeting Aesclepius mp3 (located in the Doc Sharing area). Describe your meditative practices for the week and discuss the experience. Explain how mindfulness or meditation has fostered an increase in your psychological or spiritual wellness. How can you continue to apply these practices in your life to foster greater health and wellness?

Ok, so while listening to the introduction of the recording, I had a hard time think of someone in my life that fit the criteria. I mean I had a lot of positive women in my life (thankfully) but none who could fit these criteria. Not knowing who in my life to visualize, I decided to use what I like to call “my mom in my head” Oprah. I just love the way she carries herself, how she stands for what she believes, and mostly the way she shares! It took me a while to figure it out, but then I finally realize that although I do not know her. I have watched her on TV for most of my life. She is open-minded, spiritual, loving, and nurturing (or at least that's the way she portrays herself to be). When trying to visualize light coming out of a body, I kept thinking of her soul leaving the body. I don’t know why I was thinking a long the line of death? I remember with the previous meditation exercise we used multiple colors, it just seems much easier to focus on multiple colors than just one. The longer the meditation exercise went on the easier it became. 

1. Describe the saying: "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself" (p.477). How does this apply to the health and wellness professional? Do you have an obligation to your clients to be developing your health psychologically, physically, and spiritually? Why or why not? How can you implement psychological and spiritual growth in your personal life?

I can definitely feel my inner self-growing and a unity transpiring within myself. As a health care professional I should continue with the tools I have gather in this course, it would not only benefit me but it would also allow me to teach others. By doing so, not only will I achieve a higher level of human flourishing but I would be also a great teacher for those who desire integral health. Walk the walk and other will follow. Keeping in mind that what we put out there in the universe we will receive. 

Unit 6

Practicing loving kindness was much easier to me. I think because for me, it has always been easier to  fulfilling or to do for others. I wish that more people would think about other humans and know that we all are more alike than different. That by helping our fellow neighbor we are helping ourselves, it was a great meditation exercise.

When the integral assessment came along, I did not know where to start? I know I am a working progress, I always been open about it. However, when you really start to analyze and think about the areas in your life you want to improve. The list just gets so much bigger. The area that I have chosen to grow and develop more is biological. Feel like I always claim to be a runner, and at one point I really was. However, now I find every excuse under the sun not to go to the gym! This week, it has been a bit difficult, because I’m working days and I don’t have the time that I used to. My next excuse is my homework, then finally not having anybody to keep and eye on my daughter. Although all legitimate excuses, there are ways to keep active even if you don’t go to the gym. I own a treadmill and I never take it out for a walk. It is now being used as a hanger. Sad but true!

I feel down, fat, and unattractive! I don’t fit well in clothes that I used to. I have this skinny girl in my head and every time I grab something that I think would fit me, I find myself very disappointed and sad not to be able to fit it.

I know that a good diet and exercise is the way, but I don’t know why I don’t just put the work into it? Again, I have crated a plan and I plan to really implement it. I am going to exercise every single day, regardless of what, where, and when. I am tired of feeling like this! I want to feel good about myself!!!

I will keep you all posted!!

Rosa