This document discusses the importance of mental and spiritual fitness for children. It defines mental/spiritual fitness as connecting the mind, body and spirit through practices like meditation. The benefits include reduced stress, improved mood and health. It references three studies that show the positive effects of spiritual focus and lifestyle changes on health outcomes. The document suggests modeling wellness behaviors and provides two exercises - Flower and Candle breathing, and a smile visualization - for children to develop mental/spiritual fitness.
1. The Importance of Mental/Spiritual Fitness - a message for my children
2. Introduction This presentation will: Teach you the importance of mental/spiritual fitness and how it can affect your physical health Introduce you to some of the benefits of mental/spiritual fitness Share three research studies with you that prove the healing qualities of spiritual and mental focus Teach you at least two exercises, activities or practices that can improve your mental/spiritual health
27. The Lifestyle Heart Trial - continued “The group of patients who received our lifestyle program reduced their blood cholesterol levels by almost 40 percent”. (Schlitz, Amorok, and Micozzi, 2005). The greater the lifestyle changes, greater was the reversal of heart disease, regardless of the patient’s age
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30. Eat a well balanced diet, with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables
33. Cut out pictures of various cars – pick sports cars, family cars and clunkersAsk questions comparing a person’s body to a certain car Examples: When you grow up, do you want a body like a race car or a clunker? Do you clean your car, is it like you taking a bath?
39. Breath deep, in through your nose and out through your mouth
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41. Open your eyes and tell me how you feel nowLove from the heart space is calm and relaxing and helps you feel peace
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45. References Ardell, B. Ph. D. (September, 2000). Seek Wellness LLC. Teaching children about wellness. Retrieved August 6, 2010 from http://www.seekwellness.com/wellness/articles/teaching_children.htm Dacher, E.S. (2006). Integral Health: The Path to Human Flourishing. Laguna beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, Inc.
46. References ForeverLearn. (2009). Womens Health Wellness. How to Reduce Stress. Retrieved August 6, 2010 from http://www.womens-health-wellness.cup-of-life.com/How-to-Reduce-Stress.html Harris, A.H, Luskin, F.M.., Benisovich, S.V., Standard, S., Bruning, J., Evans, S. and Thoresen, C. (2006) Effects of a group forgiveness intervention on forgiveness, perceived stress and trait anger: A randomized trial. Journal of Clinical Psychology. 62(6) 715-733. Retrieved August 6, 2010 from http://learningtoforgive.com/research/effects-of-group-forgiveness-intervention-on-perceived-stress-state-and-trait-anger-symptoms-of-stress-self-reported-health-and-forgiveness-stanford-forgiveness-project/
47. References Jazwierska, J. Ed.S, NCSP. (2008). Kids Relaxation. Flower and Candle. Retrieved August 6, 2010 from http://www.kidsrelaxation.com/relaxation_activities/1flower_candle.htm Jazwierska, J. Ed.S, NCSP. (2008). Kids Relaxation. Space to Face: A Smile Visualization. Retrieved August 6, 2010 from http://www.kidsrelaxation.com/relaxation_activities/8_space_face.htm
48. References Schlitz, M., Amorok, T., and Micozzi, M.S. (2005). Consciousness & Healing: Integral Approaches to Mind-Body Medicine. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Churchill Livingston Publications. Tannen, S. (n.d.). Mental fitness—exercises for the brain. Retrieved August 6, 2010 from http://www.bellydoc.com/articles/article7.htm
Notas do Editor
Mental fitness is very important to our overall health and well being. I chose my children as my audience, because we are in great need of mental and spiritual fitness. We have had a lot of bad things happen in our lives, and we have all been negatively affected. I hope what I have learned from taking this class can first help me and my family and then I will better be able to help my patients.
I look these benefits from our various readings and then to worded it in a dialect my children would understand. According to Dacher, (2006, p. 81), “Instead of just climbing ropes and doing calisthenics, we could add mind/body approaches like tai chi, qigong, or yoga to gym class. That way, we would be instilling in our children at a very young age a more expansive sense of their body and its relationship to the mind”. I feel this is an awesome idea. Many children dislike gym class, and I feel activities that exercise their minds as well as their bodies would be very beneficial to them.
I was amazed to learn all the benefits one can obtain from having spiritual and mental fitness. The ForeverLearn web site tells us examples of the benefits of meditaion. It also states, “Once we have learned how to reduce stress in our lives through meditation everything in our lives works better, because we are more relaxed. We have a deeper feeling of inner peace and an expanded sense of our oneness of God which contributes to our spiritual wellness”. There are Physiological Benefits and Psychological Benefits it lowers blood pressure, decreases muscle tension and headaches, boosts the immune system, reduces PMS, reduces stress and anxiety, reduces depression, increases creativity and intelligence, reduces irritability and moodiness, increases self esteem and confidence, and increases alertness. (ForeverLearn, 2009).
I felt Dr. Arell’s advise was appropriate for my situation. I remember listening to Metallica as a teen, and one of the verses to their songs is “Do as I say not as I do!” I always swore I would not do this to my children, and I find myself doing it often. If I talk the talk, I need to walk the walk. My children are my gift from God, and I need to raise them up as God would want me too. The best way to do this is to follow Him, and get mentally, spiritually and physically healthy so my children will follow suit.
Dr. Ardell explains how family outings, long car rides and breaks from television are great times for children to learn about mental and spiritual wellness. It is the perfect time to play games that teach children about the four food groups. Comparing cars to themselves help them understand why food, rest and exercise are so imprortant.
I actually showed this presentation to my children. I had them perform the Flower and Candle, and each of them could describe their flowers to me and told me what their flowers smelled like. They each gave me a good reason for use of this activity.
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I had my children actually do this activity too. After completion, my ten-year old said she felt “funny, but a good funny”. My nine-year old said he felt “happy and joyful”. My six-year old said, “I feeled calm and loveness”, she also said her baby dolly feels “calm and loveness. My five-year, said “happy!” He was excited about being happy. We actually enjoyed these activities.
