According to Houston (2006), the world of vision and clarity can open through yoga and meditation. The language of Sanskrit is the vehicle to that world as preparation to meditation through chanting aloud or silently within. You can read the complete article at http://www.americansanskrit.com/read/a_meditation.php.
This article was important to me because it points out how our "individual life fields," that are not necessarily limited to the parameters of our physical bodies, are programmed by our habits, both mentally and physically." According to Houston (2006), this limits our sense of self and yoga is a practice that can terminate these habitual activities that limit us and our life experiences. The information we have been studying these last two weeks in class have focused on the brain and its never ending ability to change. We have also discussed how thoughts do lead to changes in brain connections and thoughts are wired together as we think. We also learned that words and thought can change the structure of matter.
This article was important to me because it points out how our "individual life fields," that are not necessarily limited to the parameters of our physical bodies, are programmed by our habits, both mentally and physically." According to Houston (2006), this limits our sense of self and yoga is a practice that can terminate these habitual activities that limit us and our life experiences. The information we have been studying these last two weeks in class have focused on the brain and its never ending ability to change. We have also discussed how thoughts do lead to changes in brain connections and thoughts are wired together as we think. We also learned that words and thought can change the structure of matter.
If this is true, as social workers we have tremendous opportunities to help individuals begin to think differently about what is possible in their lives. In therapy, the words we use can rephrase what we are hearing in a more positive way for someone else, possibly creating changes in brain connections through the listening process for both of us. I like to think of it as partnership growth and healing for the client and social worker in the therapeutic process.
References:
Houston, V. (2006). Sanskrit, the language of meditation, American Sanskrit Institute. Retrieved September 3, 2009 from http://www.americansanskrit.com/read/a_meditation.php
Hi Mary,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post, especially your discussion that ties yoga and meditation with habitual neuroplasticity activities.
I agree that social workers that are unbounded by limitations and spend time practicing and practicing and practicing deep awareness, clarity, and positive thinking will not only change their own brain structure and function in a myriad positive ways, they will be much more likely to help others they are working with to delete old, ineffective neural connections and creating new, empowered networks.
Professor Yellow Bird