Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Meditation
Alexis Switenko
EPORTFOLIO ASSIGNMENT
I have loved participating in my meditation class. In this class, I have learned not
just about the foundations of meditation practices, but I have learned about myself and
Starting out in this class, I wasnt completely sure what to expect. In looking at
the syllabus, I thought it would perhaps be a more conventional style lecture class,
covering a wide range of subjects dealing with the different types of meditation, their
history, and the people and symbols and icons that have contributed to the practice of
meditation in popular society up to this day. However, upon arriving to this class, I found
an open environment, one where the professor truly cares about her students, getting to
know them on a personal level, and working with them to provide them with the best
possible experience in her classroomafter all, meditation begins with your state of
mind. This is absolutely something that Professor Switenko did not ignore in creating the
Each day, we came into a calm and peaceful environment, we were asked about
any troubles or news we felt the need to share, and we delved into a new style of
meditation as the Professor led us along a pathway into ourselves. We learned about
Professor Switenko kept the class very down-to-earth, and made sure not to get too lost in
the mysticism that can drive some people away from the idea of meditation and
enlightenment. She taught us the basics, and she tactfully provided us with the
aromatherapy, and more. She provided us with a safe space where we were pushed to
learn more about ourselves and our own headspaces, but not beyond any point we were
There were a few meditations that stood out to me particularlyone was called
So Hum meditation. This meditation consists of simply breathing, no matter where you
are (but preferably in a seated position), and on the inhale you let the mantra SO fill
your head. So is translated into I Am. On the exhale, you recite the mantra HUM.
Hum translates into That, which, as a deeper translation, means All That Is. It is a
simple meditation that uses the simple tool of our breath, something that happens all day
every day no matter what, to ground us, bring us to mindfulness, and put us in our place
in the universe. This is one that I have been practicing in my everyday life, and it has
Another great aspect of this class was the Professors and my classmates ability
to connect meditation to actual physiology. It is one thing to say that meditation will
make you feel better, elevate your mind, etc., but its another completely to bring actual
studies that prove how meditation practice has literally improved test subjects physical
bodies. Not only in a preventative way; things like improving circulation and bloodflow
to the brain are incredible things, but they are not necessarily something that catches the
attention and makes you believe in the powers of this practice. However, regressing the
effects of Alzheimers disease, improving the capacity to heal, and actual brain scans that
show the brain of someone who practices mediation working harder in many areas than
This class has provided me with a skill I will continue to use for the rest of my
life. This has been an invaluable experience, and it was a wonderful opportunity to be
able to take a break in the middle of my busy schoolday simply to sit or lie down, close
my eyes, and look inward. To be provided with allotted time to calm my thoughts and
improve my minds focus. I would not trade this experience I had for anything else. This
education will aid me in all my future studies, as I will have the tools and knowledge
necessary to take a break and relieve myself from stress throughout my day, wherever I
am.