Describe your experience. (Did you find it beneficial? Difficult?) Why or Why not? Would you recommend this to others? Why or Why not?

Yes, the Loving Kindness tape was very relaxing and not difficult at all. What it revealed to me was,how stressful my environment is on an ongoing basis from Monday through Friday. Without a conscious intention to relax and to breathe deeply I have begun to adapt my lifestyle to constant motion, activity without any downtime to relax, breathe deeping and to enjoy life. My body is not designed to run consistantly if I truly desire to obtain optimal, and flourishing health. I believe that the best balanced lifestyle formula for me is to feel refreshed, alive and mentally alert is the following:
7 hours of uninterrupted sound sleep,
2 hours of quality meditation in the morning and in the evening for a minimum of 1 hour for each practice.
9 hours for work this also includes drive time
3 hours of home work
1 hour for my physical fitness workout
2 hours left over for quality family time and fun. I would consider this a balanced life.
I am in the midst of refining my time management skills.

Yes, I would definitely recommend this relaxation tape to others and plan to share it with some friends to see what benefits they experience from listening to the CD, and what changes if any they would make with their life.

2) What is the concept of "Mental Workout"? What does the research indicate are the proven benefits of a Mental Work Out? How can you implement mental workouts to foster your psychological health?
A Mental work out can begin the process of obtaining "human flourishing" lifestyle. However, it may require an Olympian focused intension, determination, and practice. The outcome can far surpass optimum health, ultimate happiness and wholeness. By implementing a minimum of one hour a day can add up and the results outstanding. I have integrated a healthy diet, proper nutrition, daily exercise of a minimum of 45 minutes a day for the past year and my perseverance has not been for naught. I have dropped almost 2 dress sizes and my waistline has been significantly reduced. I recently met with a friend with whom I have not seen in the past 4 months and she recognized the changes immediately.

It is the same for mental conditioning and mental work. By integrating a daily mental workout program, I will begin to slow my life style, down to a crawl begin to open my heart to others, and gradually diminish self centerdness. The moment I begin to slow my mind, heart, spirit the healing process begins in all three, and the mind begins to open up mind for further development. It is similar to lifting weights, building the muscles, in either the arm, leg, back, or tightening the stomach muscles instead we are building mental muscles of expanded consciousness.