Course Reflection

1. Please discuss at least one connection you've made between what you've studied in this LW course and what you’ve learned from other courses you have taken at SLCC (or other institution) or have learned before taking this class? Make specific references to your work in this class and in other courses. How did what you learned in other courses enhance what you learned here, and vice versa?

I decided to take this class because I was very interested in learning more about it. I had a general understanding of yoga and meditation, and I found the benefits of both very valuable.

Throughout my time studying at SLCC, I've taken five psychology classes with incredible professors. These classes coincidentally mentioned something in common: the impact stress has on people's mental and overall health. In the Abnormal Psychology class, we were taught the role stress can play in mental deterioration and how more extreme damage can occur. In the Personality Theory class, stress is also mentioned and how it is present as a characteristic of a person's personality. Likewise, one of the class assignments encourages us to choose to work on our stress management due to the benefits it can have. Finally, the Brain and Behavior class also discusses stress, highlighting the biological implications it has on people's brains and how it can affect overall functions and behavior.

The above represents the connections I've made between what I studied in this course and what I learned in my other courses. Listening to the information I learned in my psychology classes and then going to this class allowed me to complement what I had learned. Likewise, when we were given information about meditation and yoga in this class, it helped me go to my psychology classes with a mind more filled with information and ideas to share. Gaining knowledge on the subject, from two complementary perspectives, allowed me to continue making connections between classes and to have a more open mind to starting a change in my life.

What I learned in this class helped me greatly personally, and learning about the scientific basis behind meditation also helped me become more engaged in my mental health.

2. Reflect on what you thought about fitness and lifelong wellness before you took this course and how you think about it now that you have completed the course. Have any of your assumptions or understandings changed? Why? What assignments/activities/readings were influential in this process? How will you approach what influenced you differently in the future?

I used to think that fitness and lifelong wellness were difficult to do and achieve; I used to think that it took a lot of effort and work to succeed in both. After completing this course, I realize that achieving both is not very difficult, but it is necessary to be constant if we want to see the benefits of both.

My knowledge of both was general. I knew they had health benefits, but I didn't know exactly what they were or how much of a positive impact they had on people. I feel that what I learned in this class complemented my previous ideas about fitness, lifelong wellness, meditation, and yoga, and I'm very happy about that. All the assignments, activities, and readings influenced my journey to gain knowledge about fitness and long-term well-being. The course was very well-structured, and the information shared was invaluable. Some of the activities that I would like to share are meditation at the beginning of classes, walking, mandalas, and mindfulness techniques. 

The meditations at the beginning of classes helped me prepare mentally, as they helped my mind put aside all the thoughts I had about the homework I had to do. The walk helped me appreciate my time and be more patient, not rushing things, and instead enjoying the scenery that is life. Coloring the mandalas also helped me become more patient and trust the process. At first, I felt a lot about what I had to color, but as I continued, the process felt more relaxed. Finally, mindfulness techniques helped me focus on the present and pay attention to how I feel.

In the future, I'll approach what influenced me differently when someone asks me about fitness, long-term wellness, and yoga. I will tell from my experience what I learned in my yoga class and how all that helped me learn little by little about fitness and long-term well-being. I will share what I learned about yoga: that it's much more than stretching, that it has a purpose and seeks to help people find peace and bring peace to the present. Likewise, I will comment on how, with perseverance and determination, we can achieve long-term well-being, establishing specific goals and achieving them step by step.

Without a doubt, I plan to share with my acquaintances how Yoga helped me lead a calmer and better life.

Signature Assignment Reflection

For the signature assignment, I chose my Decisional Balance Worksheet assignment because, in addition to finding it interesting, it has helped me a lot when making decisions.

I have always found it difficult to make decisions, no matter how minor they may be. One of my long-held goals is to go to bed early. I've tried many times to maintain this habit, but I find it difficult in the long run.

I'm aware of the benefits of developing this habit, but I think what made it difficult to assimilate was that the information was so scattered in my mind. Completing the Decisional Balance Worksheet helped me organize all the information about the benefits of going to sleep early. Being able to organize, in one place and separated into sections, the benefits of changing a behavior (in this case, going to bed early) and the downsides of not doing so helped me be more determined to start making a change. Currently, I've achieved my goal of going to bed early, and I've stayed consistent. Knowing the reasons why I chose to sleep late helped me organize my time better and find a better time to do the things I chose to do late.

Without a doubt, this assignment was very meaningful to me.