Exercise 1:
Although I have done both of these meditations several times before, I really appreciated doing this again. Although my breathing is not as incorrect as the very first time I tried this, I still realized I was not breathing as much into my belly as I should have. The warming of the hands didn’t do that much for me, but just placing my hands on my abdomen was very useful as a way to focus on where I should be breathing. I also forgot how relaxing it was to just lie down and breathe. I was a little worried I might fall asleep, but I stayed relaxed and alert the whole time. This is one I will definitely be repeating, especially if I’m stressed out. :)
Exercise 2:
Although I have not yet completed this excersize three times, I thought I would post on it anyway, since it is becoming a part of my daily regimen. Nothing about it surprised me really; the obstacles I encountered were ones I expected: some serious monkey mind. It takes a concerted effort to stay with my breathing and stop worrying about everyday things. The first time I did it I had trouble with it because I was a little short for time in the morning, and the second because I didn’t have the proper clothing- I was just wearing jeans, which didn’t allow me to breath properly sitting down. Since I’ve started Aikido, the main center of my energy mentally has begun to change from my solar plexus (which is what I am most aware of all the time as it is most quickly and easily affected by imbalances, being both very sensitive and the area I tend to crush when I slouch accidentally) to lower below my navel, or the Dan Tien area. So a lot of my clothing is a bit restrictive for meditation. I need more yoga-type pants to be comfortable in. I do find it easier to meditate in the morning than after class or in the evening, unless I have just returned from Aikido. It acts exactly like yoga for me: as a physical expression of channeling energy and balancing my whole self, so that when I come home and sit, I feel very connected to every part of me. I also find it easier to meditate with my eyes closed. I have a slightly small apartment, and unless I have just cleaned there is inevitable clutter. That is a little more distraction than want to deal with at this earlier stage of getting back into meditation. I look forward to doing this exercise more and improving on it. 
Much love,
Kai-An
Amazing how many taking on martial arts find their ‘center of awareness’ changing from ‘head’ or high down to the Dan Tien… sort of ‘readjusting body awareness.
And, I prefer meditating with my eyes ‘semi closed’ or closed… just make certain it does not turn into ‘snooze time’ .
Haha, the meditation time becoming snooze time doesn’t happen unless I’m dead tired usually.