Posted by Ensign Domingo Chavez (Security Officer) in Counselor’s Office (Post-Sim Side Sim)

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Katie Nunn (Counselor) in Counselor’s Office (Post-Sim Side Sim)

Posted by Ensign Domingo Chavez (Security Officer) in Counselor’s Office (Post-Sim Side Sim)
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“Don’t slouch and keep your back straight. You could end up meditating for up to an hour and immediately regret bad posture when you’re done. Fortunately the couches can provide some back support.” He said while keeping back straight and loose.

Katie was suddenly very aware of her terrible posture as she forced her upper body into a more upright stance. She found herself leaning against the couch behind her quite a bit as she tried to get comfortable, shifting her weight from side to side as her body wanted to return to the slight spinal and shoulder curl that it was more accustomed to.

“Now the actual meditation method can vary person to person. Some like soft music, others a consistent ticking sound, or even just silence. It’s said that the key is to go until your mind is empty and tranquil.” Domingo snorts lightly at that point, “I call BS on that idea personally. Some minds never settle, but they can be focused. I tend to count to myself, either to ten thousand, which the number doesn’t really matter as it just serves as a focusing device, or by going through prime numbers if I want my focus more keen. I use this type of hyper-focus to drown everything else out. Then every tenth number would be either an inhale or an exhale. Eventually the counting fades away until I only focus on the sound of my breathing.”

Domingo pauses before asking, “Any questions?”

Ensign Chavez, Sec

Katie was still fidgeting trying to find a comfortable position before sighing with a slightly pained expression on her features. “I’ll give it a try but I don’t think I’m going to be a meditation success,” she remarked with a self-chastising grin. Her eyes took in Chavez’s structured form as she waited for some indication that it was time to begin. While she was certainly interested in meditation for a practical skill for her patients, it didn’t seem like something that was particularly well-suited to her. She could, at least, keep an eye on the prized beverage at the end of the session, however.

Lt Cmdr Nunn, CNS

Domingo couldn’t help but grin at the fidgeting Counselor, “I completely understand your feelings. I’d prefer a more active release of frustrations but sometimes you’re in a position where you can’t beat the crap out of a punching bag, so I find it important to have another option to use. Now we’re going to do a guided meditation where I’ll lead and direct you. I’ll start off with with some counting, instructing when to breathe in and out, then just when to breathe and finally just follow my breathing. Focus on my breath and match yourself to it. We’ll do a short session of ten minutes, just to let you experience what it’s like. Okay?”

Ensign Chavez, Sec

“Next time, let’s do the active release of frustrations,” Katie grumbled lightly at Chavez. “A nice run on the beach always does the trick for me.” She sighed with slightly more drama than necessary and nodded her affirmation to Chavez, hoping that he didn’t misconstrue her discomfort with meditation as a lack of appreciation for his willingness to demonstrate for her.

Lt Cmdr Nunn, CNS