This blog will be my companion as I journey through Simon Fraser University Masters of Education HEAL program. I begin with a poem written about 1 year ago. It was inspired after I travelled to India where I spent 3 weeks at an ashram learning the basics of self inquiry.  My life was transformed at it's very core. 

without fear

I sit in my room quiet and alone

If feels like my soul is coming home

To feel my body in it’s space

I begin the journey for gurus’ grace

The silent breath, it’s gentle flow

Allows the lamp inside to glow

Spine is straight and upright

I look inside with inner sight

The waves of thoughts are all around

I wait and listen for the sound

I hear his voice whispering the prayer
Live your life without fear

mother ganga -Rishikesh

Living life without fear is having the courage to be true to oneself; a lesson I learned on my return to Vancouver from India. This blog is entitled 'Mouna in HEALing'. Mouna when translated from sanskrit has three meanings:  silence, measurement and mental awareness. The practice of Mouna is the practice of finding truth within. HEALing refers to SFU's Health Education and Active Living program. The notion of health is as diverse as each individual. Using silence in education is a unique method that allows for self discovery and learning for both student and instructor alike. The connection between the two will become more evident in later postings. 

What are my interests and why did I enroll in this program?

I have a deep interest in understanding the external and internal factors that influence human behavior towards health.  As an educator and manual therapy practitioner it's clear to me that health is more than physical activities.  I enrolled in this program to broaden my understanding of the myraid factors contributing to health, to personally challenge myself in discovering and exploring areas of health that I am not familiar with, to share aspects of health that I resonate with and to strengthen my skills, knowledge and attitudes as a health care practitioner and educator.

What is my understanding of health and the mind body relationship?

There is increasing clinical evidence linking the mind body connection. A google search for 'mind body research' brings up 131,000,000 results ( September 9th 2013). 
I have personally practiced and experience the effects of mind body relaxation techniques such as 
Progressive Muscular Relaxation. The effects immedicately reduces muscular tension, slows
breathing, reduces blood pressure and promotes deep dreamless restful sleep.

The Gayatri Mantra is one of the oldest and most widely used vedic prayers. 

Oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ

tát savitúr váreṇ(i)yaṃ

bhárgo devásya dhīmahi

dhíyo yó naḥ pracodáyāt

There are many translations of this prayer, the 1915 translation by Swami Vivekananda is 'We meditate on the glory of that Being who has produced this universe; may He enlighten our minds.' This prayer does not ask for riches, health, land or food. Instead it asks for enlightenment of our minds. Perhaps we need to take notice of what the ancients knew: the mind is the source of all our sufferings.

What would I like to gain from this experience? What would I contribute?

I look forward to lasting friendships with my cohort group, instructors and others
I look forward to producing though provoking peices of work,
I look forward to exploring new areas of study,
I look forward to challenging myself in ways I can't imagine today,
I look forward to be challenged by my peers,
I look forward to having fun and laughing so hard that everyone laughts with me,
I look forward to enjoying the journey instead of rushing to the finish line,
I look forward to the coming months.

My contribution is my commitment to this program. It's not just the completion of the assignments and readings, but it's knowing that I am now part of a larger group and the success of the group is a measure and reflection of my success. My contribution is to be an active participant, share my thoughts and experiences, be honest and respectful and be present for all.