Reflection on Meditation & Relaxation

What was the most effective meditation tool for you this semester? How have your perceptions of meditation changed over the course of the semester? Is there anything you wish you had learned? Do you plan on continuing your exploration of meditation in the future?

I have to say that this was definitely my favorite class this semester. Because I stress out so much, the meditation and relaxation techniques that I learned will really help me to deal with this better. I think the best "tool" was just learning how to be in the here and now, and most of all, BREATHE! The breathing techniques are probably what relaxes me the most, although I already practice this in yoga. And of course, I always love yoga, not only for the deep breathing practiced but also for the way it just cleanses your entire body. I love it!

I really don't know of other meditation techniques, so I can't say that I wish I had learned other things, but I do wish we could have met twice a week and maybe have done each meditative technique twice instead of just once.

I really hope to put these techniques to use further down the road, especially at times of high stress. I will definitely keep up the breathing and the yoga, since those are my favorite and make me feel the best.

Body Map

The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.

- Aristotle

Did the body map experiment teach you anything about yourself?

I thought the body map experiment was a lot of fun. However, I don't think I would use it again as meditation. But I do like the idea of using art as a form of meditation. I really love to paint so I think that would be a good thing for me to use as a form of meditation. Honestly, I don't think I really learned anything about myself that I was not aware of before. It was fun though being able to represent myself and also seeing what everybody else had drawn. I find it really interesting to see everybody's different representations of the different chakras. I also think that even if we did a body map using a paint brush, it would be a lot easier for me to express myself.

Kriya Meditation

The word "kriya" means to purify, clean, or clarify. Kriya Meditation forces us to be with our experience in the present moment while visualizing the expression of our experiences into a symbolic construction within the energetic body. In an effort to heal, these energetic centers are visualized leaving the body for a time while the body is "left empty". Upon return of these experiences, we accept our experience back into our bodies as a healed constitution of our existential selves.

What experiences seemed vivid, strong, intense, dull, weak, troubled? Was there a resolution? Did you find it a difficult process to stay focused or did you find yourself in another state of consciousness? Where/when did your mind begin to drift and do you think this significant? Where/when did you feel completely present and what is the significance here?

Since I had to make up a class, I had to do Kriya Meditation twice, and I had different experiences with both of them. When I did it on Wednesday, I really liked it. I think I might have just been in a good mood because of yoga and I had actually gotten eight hours of sleep, but for the rest of the day, I just felt great. My mind didn't wander as much as it usually does and I was able to listen to Anita's voice and the visualizations she made for us.