I must admit that this was my first time to attempt any relaxation technique. You can make a wild guess on what my experience was. If you guessed that it was a total disaster, you might not be far away from the truth. I hardly concentrated on any of the said techniques and none of the experiences the narrator was talking about could be felt anywhere on my body. I will however try it one more time and hopefully I would be able to get to the relaxation point of feeling the calmness and the inner peace.
I also believe that my skepticism about such relaxation techniques had something to do with the unsuccessful attempt to relax. I am used to listening to music and then reflecting on the words and would find some relaxation in that. Like i said, I will give it a second shot and see what happens.
Hi David - Thanks for giving it a try, and for your honest response. Having done a lot of meditation and relaxation exercises in my life, my experience is that you need to try it over and over again. Be sure that you're in a quiet place - and no one is watching you :). My hunch is that after about the 3rd time, you are going to start to notice something. Stay with it, your perseverance will pay off.
ReplyDeleteProf Betty
Hi David,
ReplyDeleteI think that it is very interesting on how some of us were able to do what the voice recording said and others, it did nothing. In our reading it said that we must learn how to communicate to our body through our mind and I think that this recording was a sample of the bodies ability to do just that. I definitely felt my arms and hands getting heavy and enjoyed the exercise. I hope that after doing it several times, like the professor stated, you will notice something. Take care, Jacqui
Hi David,
ReplyDeleteJust like you I feel mine was a disaster too! No relaxing for me the first time around. Unlike you I think I concentrated on the said techniques too much which made me miss the whole relaxing part! The only thing I felt in my body, was in the beginning when I first heard the music, it immediately sent a warm calming affect through my body. But as I tried to listen and concentrate on what the guy was saying that feeling was lost and tension took it's place. Just like you though I will give this technique another try and hopefully after a few times I will feel the relaxation! Good luck on your next attempt! Cindy
Hi David,
ReplyDeleteI hope you continue to try again a few more times like the Professor suggested. It has helped me so much in my life and I am hoping to learn so much more.
Your honesty is refreshing. Now work it!
Robin
PS Darling family picture!
ReplyDeleteRobin
Thanks Robin. I thank God for my family.
DeleteThat is wonderful David! I am sure your family adores you too!
DeleteRobin
David,
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely easy to feel silly doing this type of exercise for the first time. I also felt a bit silly, but I've done stranger things around my kids and my husband wasn't home last week, so that part of it wasn't too much of an issue for me. Did you listen to it with or without headphones? I did not used headphones, and I think that using them may have helped to block out some distractions, so the next time, I will be using them. Hopefully you are more successful with your next attempt. It was really relaxing for me. I had my older two kids try it with me, and it wasn't as therapeutic for them. I think they thought of it as silly. Maybe I'll try with them again, too!
Warm Regards,
Amy
Amy,
DeleteThanks for the reply. I tried initially without headphones but after trying with headphones, it seems much different now.
David,
ReplyDeleteAnother thing you might try is to listen to the recording to get the steps of the exercise and try it on your own with relaxing music in the background. I did not mind the narrator, but if I am to branch out and focus on other areas besides my arms and hands, then it might be difficult to follow the narrator and apply it to the other needed areas.
Regards,
Elicia
This is a good point Elicia; this is called Autogenic "training" because it's exactly that, once you learn how to do this in one part of the body, you can apply it yourself to other parts. However, what we're listening to is just 15 minutes. A full autogenic training, or progressive relaxation session (as it's sometimes called) takes a good hour. But again, after you learn the whole thing, you can take yourself through the visualizations. Like everything else David and class, it takes practice. If you work with it, this is a really powerful mind/body technique.
ReplyDeleteDavid,
ReplyDeleteIf you are unable to find relaxation in this type of exercise...Honestly I laughed the whole time..i have that bad sense of humor at the wrong time...as usual...I do enjoy listening to the instrumental music. The one I have in currently is Spirit Dreams. I have another that really puts the muscles to bed...Wolf Magic...I love the out doors and all that nature has to offer...which could be why that these work for me...i give myself the permission to relax and to let things go....and I do tend to rest better when I do...just a thought...but then again...a day on the river cures all ails!! Best of luck this week!