Video 1- "Self-Observation"
1. The most important thing you can do when no one can help you is self-observation.
2. Self-observation is watching yourself and everything around you and observing things almost as if you were someone else. Self-absorption is being completely occupied with just yourself and not really focused on anything else going on.
3. We suffer because we can identify with these emotions and convince ourselves we are these emotions. We tend to define ourselves by suffering.
4. He uses the analogy of the clouds and sky saying that the self is the sky and we are observers of the clouds passing by.
5. If we understand things in our lives then they will change.
6. "What you judge you cannot understand."
7. I do not think my post precious qualities and characteristics account for all of my "I." We as people are so much more than the things we use to define ourselves, I don't think we will every be able to understand. I think other people see things about us that we do not even see about ourselves, and vice versa. We think things about ourselves that others do not. I really like what he says about this though, because sometimes when going through hard times it is really hard to separate yourself from that emotion and step back and say- this does not define me.
Video 2- "Alexander Technique'
1. When we experience fear, stress, and anxiety we basically shrink back into ourselves and a quick defense mechanism sort of like the flight or fight defense. We are preparing for what is happening by pretty much running away into our own selves.
2. The Alexander Technique allows us to have a different, and really better, reaction.
3. "Nature would prefer us to be in balance."
4. The three points of contact in the foot are the big toe, little toe, and the heel.
5. The three hinges is our legs are the ankles, knees, and hips.
6. The hip joints are below the pelvis and in line with the pubic bone.
7. Allow the pelvis to be heavy like an anchor.
8. The top of the spine is between your ears.
9. I think the connection between your mind and body is when you are really focused on what you are doing. The first thing that comes to my mind is when I am dancing. My mind is at peace, happy, and focused when I am dancing. As a result of this my body knows exactly what to do, and just does it. I am not really making any sense, but in my head I know what I am trying to say.
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Getting out of your own way
Playing the game of life:
1. Our society tells children they must abide by all these rules and follow a certain pattern and always be preparing for the next thin, and it never seems to end.
2. Society's preparation for life is really school. We are always preparing for the next thing, elementary, then middle school, then high school, then college, then a job, then whatever is next from that. Nowadays it is becoming harder and harder to get a job without adequate college education, so if you don't "prepare" the correct way, you can almost forget about what society determines as success.
3. Once you hit your "goals" you often feel cheated because it is just not all it lives up to. You've constantly been forced to prepare for you don't really know what. Once you reach it you think you would feel great, but most times it is not even what you really want.
4. Our final goal is retirement. Work all your life just so you can do nothing eventually. I personally think this is really sad, and in a perfect world people would be doing what they want in life and would happy with their work and not have a goal of retiring, but of making the world a better place by the work they set out to do.
5. The problem with living for the future is that you are missing everything that is happening right now! It can be really hard to not think about the future and what goals you have, but you will miss so much in life when you forget that the present moment is really the only important one.
The secret of life:
1. The Chinese word for nature is ziran, it means "that which happens to itself."
2. You stop the spontaneous flowering of nature by telling something it must do it.
3. According to Watts, humans are the fabric and structure of existence.
4. According to Watts, the secret of life is to be fully engaged in the here and now.
You're already awesome:
1. Dr. Brewer's flow experience was him riding his bike down a steep mountain side.
2. According to a Harvard study, we get caught up in thinking 50% of the time.
3. A wondering mind is an unhappy mind!
4. During meditation, the brain quiets down quite a bit.
5. In nine minutes, the test subject learned the difference of getting in his own way and being in the moment.
Reflection:
This relates to our yoga practice because it is something we do to help be in the moment and settle down our brains and stop worrying about the future. It is the same with killer ball and performing, these tasks require you to be fully in the moment if you are going to do them successfully. You have to be so focused on the present, and not let your brain run wild with everything else. Looking at it in another way, not only are these task that require you to be in the present, but they are tasks that should just naturally put you in the moment, When playing killer ball, it is obvious most of us become fully engaged in what is happening. Yoga is so relaxing and nice you easily stop thinking about your problems. And for an actor, acting is something we like to do. We don't do it because we have to, we do it because we want to. Being onstage as someone who is not yourself makes it so easy to let go and live in the moment, because really, why would you be thinking about your future as you take on another character?
1. Our society tells children they must abide by all these rules and follow a certain pattern and always be preparing for the next thin, and it never seems to end.
2. Society's preparation for life is really school. We are always preparing for the next thing, elementary, then middle school, then high school, then college, then a job, then whatever is next from that. Nowadays it is becoming harder and harder to get a job without adequate college education, so if you don't "prepare" the correct way, you can almost forget about what society determines as success.
3. Once you hit your "goals" you often feel cheated because it is just not all it lives up to. You've constantly been forced to prepare for you don't really know what. Once you reach it you think you would feel great, but most times it is not even what you really want.
4. Our final goal is retirement. Work all your life just so you can do nothing eventually. I personally think this is really sad, and in a perfect world people would be doing what they want in life and would happy with their work and not have a goal of retiring, but of making the world a better place by the work they set out to do.
5. The problem with living for the future is that you are missing everything that is happening right now! It can be really hard to not think about the future and what goals you have, but you will miss so much in life when you forget that the present moment is really the only important one.
The secret of life:
1. The Chinese word for nature is ziran, it means "that which happens to itself."
2. You stop the spontaneous flowering of nature by telling something it must do it.
3. According to Watts, humans are the fabric and structure of existence.
4. According to Watts, the secret of life is to be fully engaged in the here and now.
You're already awesome:
1. Dr. Brewer's flow experience was him riding his bike down a steep mountain side.
2. According to a Harvard study, we get caught up in thinking 50% of the time.
3. A wondering mind is an unhappy mind!
4. During meditation, the brain quiets down quite a bit.
5. In nine minutes, the test subject learned the difference of getting in his own way and being in the moment.
Reflection:
This relates to our yoga practice because it is something we do to help be in the moment and settle down our brains and stop worrying about the future. It is the same with killer ball and performing, these tasks require you to be fully in the moment if you are going to do them successfully. You have to be so focused on the present, and not let your brain run wild with everything else. Looking at it in another way, not only are these task that require you to be in the present, but they are tasks that should just naturally put you in the moment, When playing killer ball, it is obvious most of us become fully engaged in what is happening. Yoga is so relaxing and nice you easily stop thinking about your problems. And for an actor, acting is something we like to do. We don't do it because we have to, we do it because we want to. Being onstage as someone who is not yourself makes it so easy to let go and live in the moment, because really, why would you be thinking about your future as you take on another character?
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Mindfulness
What is Mindfulness
1. How does Dr. Kabat-Zinn define mindfulness?
Dr. Kabat-Zinn describes mindfulness as paying attention on purpose and being present in each moment that happens.
2. Why, according to Dr. Kabat-Zinn, does our "life depend" on mindfulness?
Dr. Kabat-Zinn said our lives depend on mindfulness because it simply keeps us aware. Not only does it make us more connected to everything going on around us and help us survive, but it helps in times of danger. You lose so many experiences if you are not mindful.
3. Does it matter what thing or things you pay attention to?
Not really, as long as you are really paying attention. However, it is still important to recognize what you pay attention to most or least.
4. Is mindfulness a technique?
No, mindfulness is not a technique. There are ways to help you become more mindful and get into that state of being, but it is not a technique in itself.
All it Takes is Ten Mindful Minutes
1. What does Andy suggest we do for at least ten minutes a day?
Andy suggests that for ten minutes a day we just stop everything, let it go, and do absolutely nothing.
2. What percent of time are our minds lost in thought?
According to Harvard study, 47% of the time our minds are lost in thought.
3. Is mindfulness about controlling our thoughts and feelings?
I don't think mindfulness is about controlling our thoughts and feelings. Yes, sometimes it can be hard to stop thinking about something or feeling a certain way, but I think mindfulness is about recognizing what you are feeling and then letting it pass naturally as the next one comes. It's more like relaxing and cleaning your head rather than controlling it.
4. How does Andy's juggling with the three red balls relate to our activity of balancing sticks?
Andy's juggling relates to the balancing sticks activity we did because it is something that requires us to be present. You have to focus on what you are doing and the environment around you and really nothing else.
1. How does Dr. Kabat-Zinn define mindfulness?
Dr. Kabat-Zinn describes mindfulness as paying attention on purpose and being present in each moment that happens.
2. Why, according to Dr. Kabat-Zinn, does our "life depend" on mindfulness?
Dr. Kabat-Zinn said our lives depend on mindfulness because it simply keeps us aware. Not only does it make us more connected to everything going on around us and help us survive, but it helps in times of danger. You lose so many experiences if you are not mindful.
3. Does it matter what thing or things you pay attention to?
Not really, as long as you are really paying attention. However, it is still important to recognize what you pay attention to most or least.
4. Is mindfulness a technique?
No, mindfulness is not a technique. There are ways to help you become more mindful and get into that state of being, but it is not a technique in itself.
All it Takes is Ten Mindful Minutes
1. What does Andy suggest we do for at least ten minutes a day?
Andy suggests that for ten minutes a day we just stop everything, let it go, and do absolutely nothing.
2. What percent of time are our minds lost in thought?
According to Harvard study, 47% of the time our minds are lost in thought.
3. Is mindfulness about controlling our thoughts and feelings?
I don't think mindfulness is about controlling our thoughts and feelings. Yes, sometimes it can be hard to stop thinking about something or feeling a certain way, but I think mindfulness is about recognizing what you are feeling and then letting it pass naturally as the next one comes. It's more like relaxing and cleaning your head rather than controlling it.
4. How does Andy's juggling with the three red balls relate to our activity of balancing sticks?
Andy's juggling relates to the balancing sticks activity we did because it is something that requires us to be present. You have to focus on what you are doing and the environment around you and really nothing else.
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