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?  It is important for health and wellness professionals to develop psychologically, spiritually and physically because typically you can only help a person develop as far as you, the health care provider, are willing to develop. Personally, I need to develop a good meditation routine.  Fortunately, I continue my development due to required CEUs for massage therapy and I enjoy classes that address the spiritual, physical and psychological aspects of somatics.  Personally, I also am in the process of re-developing my exercise routine to be consistent. (Dacher, 2006).

II.        Assessment: 
How have you assessed your health in each domain? How do you score your wellness spiritually, physically, and psychologically? One way I tested my health was through the journals and exercises in my other Kaplan class that I am taking at the same time as this, Stress, Critical Issues in Management and Prevention.  This class provided great self-assessment tools that helped depict personality traits that helped me to recognize some psychological and spiritual areas that need further development.  Physically, I am somewhat fit, but I test my physical health by my endurance on my elliptical as well as strength when I lift weights.  I also eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. 

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

a.     Physical: My goal is to be using my elliptical for 20 minutes per day 5 days a week as well as maintaining my weight program of arms 2 days a week and legs 2 days a week, and to have a consistent routine by the end of February 2012.

b.     Psychological: When I feel that I am getting stressed or anxious about a subject I will exercise a bit (if able) in order to get rid of the “flight or fight” chemical body response.  I will also remind myself to practice being in the present moment and not allow my brain to overload past what it is capable of doing in the present moment.

c.     Spiritual: I will deepen my relationship with God/Jesus by reading my Bible daily as well as reading The Children’s Bible to my children.

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.

a.     Physical: My strategy is that I do not allow myself to purchase larger clothing.

1.     I will exercise: I will meet my goal of working out 5 days a week on my elliptical and weights by February, 2012 and continue.

2.     I will continue a healthy, well-balanced diet.

b.     Psychological: My strategy is to practice being in the present moment.

1.     When I am working on clients, talking to people, etc. and my mind begins to wander then I will re-center and focus on that individual.

2.     I will practice meditation, beginning with mindfulness meditation and the Rainbow Meditation minimally twice per week and working up to five days per week by the end of February, 2012.

c.     Spiritually: I will develop my personal relationship with God/Jesus.

1.     I will read my Bible on a daily basis.

2.     I will read The Children’s Bible with my children so that they can develop their understanding of God/Jesus.

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? My goals in the areas of physical, spiritual will be fairly easy to assess on a continual basis because I am either performing the exercise, eating healthy as well as reading the Bible or I am not.  Psychologically, I will be able to assess whether I am meditating or not easily and as far as practicing how present I am when I am with others, for a while I will ask myself how present I was after each conversation or client until I am routinely present, and then I can assess in the same manner on a weekly then monthly basis.  However, as all three areas become more rounded with exercise, diet, meditation, and Bible study, then being present will be easier and easier.

References: Dacher, E., (2006). Integral Health: The Path to Human Flourishing. Basic Health Publications: Laguna Beach, CA

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.

It is hard for me to pick only two exercises because they were all so wonderful.  However, my favorites were the loving-kindness and the Rainbow Meditation.  I practice both on a regular basis, even when I am not in a quiet place.  I am a licensed massage therapist and provide specific myofascial bodywork and am in a quiet setting that fosters great energy, and therefore it is both easy and beneficial for myself and especially my clients for me to have a positive energy flow of loving-kindness and I often project the loving-kindness toward my clients as I work on them.  I also use the Rainbow Mountain meditation regularly, even if I don't go through all of the Chakras, I tone the ones that I feel drawn to toning at the time. I have also walked several of my clients through both meditations and they have enjoyed them also.

Unit 7

 I liked the "Meeting Aesclepius" exercise, but I found more personal response from the Rainbow Meditation exercise.  I was able to center more with the Rainbow Meditation.

I agree that "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself” (P.477) because certain things need to be experienced and not just read about in order to be able to share and help others grow. For example, I do use this in my professional practice as a licensed massage therapist using the John Barnes approach to myofascial release.  I need to know what this therapy feels like not only when providing the therapy but also when receiving the therapy. I do feel like I have an obligation to my clients to continue my personal and professional growth and development because they rely on my skill, knowledge and touch to be able to lead them on their own journey. Notice, I said to lead them on THEIR OWN journey, not my journey, but I stand as a facilitator for them through my knowledge and practice and share with them so that they can then choose and learn and journey at their own pace knowing that my office is a sacred space, free of judgement.