Reflections on Guided Relaxation (Unit 2 Blog)

Although I have had some experience with meditation and relaxation techniques, I must say that this 15 minutes guided relaxation audio was a first for me.  Although I thought the entire thing a bit strange at first, (usually I just put on background sounds, or relaxing acoustic music and try to clear my head) I was able to relax and get into the guided portion.  The narrator walked through the process of relaxing your extremities, through concentrating and willing more blood to flow to those areas.  This time he focused on hands and arms.  Through concentrating and focusing my thoughts on flowing more blood to my hands and arms, I was able to experience the heavy and warm feeling he was describing.  When asked to lift my arms, I found it hard to do the first time, and had to really concentrate in order to do so.

At the end of the relaxation, we were supposed to feel calm but energized.  Maybe it was because I was doing the relaxation at almost 9 at night, but I did not feel energized after, although I was quite relaxed.

I have used similar techniques myself when I feel an anxiety attack coming on, although I have not focused on trying to redirect the flow of blood from one area to the other (I usually focus on trying to slow my heart and even my breathing to avoid a full on anxiety attack).

Over all, I found this relaxation time very enjoyable, and would not mind doing it again.  I will have to keep this in mind next time I am trying to fall asleep, but cannot get comfortable!

Testing 1, 2, 3...

Hello there, Internet,

This is a blog I have created for a college class, but I could name it whatever I wanted, so I went with a Douglas Adams reference, because I am a huge nerd and not ashamed.  This is a test blog, to make sure that I know how to use it, and get all the kinks worked out, (not to mention an exploratory post) before I have to start posting things for class.  

For those of you who do not understand my sci-fi references, well, "I'm sorry.... I'm so sorry."  But in Douglas Adam's book, "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" one of the things you are supposed to know when traveling the galaxies is where your towel is.  You do not need to have it, but you must know where it is.  For those of you still lost, pick up the book, it's a great read.  

Besides all things sci-fi and fantasy related, I am also a huge fan of Disney in all its forms, and go on a vacation to Walt Disney World every year with my best friend.  I read a great deal, and also enjoy photography (Disney being one of my favorite places to photograph).  I am also currently attending Kaplan University, and am about a year away from my Bachelors Degree in Psychology with an emphasis on Applied Behavior Analysis; this blog is for one of my elective classes. 

Just to round out this trial entry, here is a photo I took the last time I went to Walt Disney World in October of 2013.

Fiber Optic Walk way at Disney's EPCOT Center