Stress Reduction and Relaxation, including Meditation

Starting to Relax

It only takes a moment to start on the path of relaxation. A moment of paying attention to your breathe, and you have taken that step. To meditate, you focus on something (a word, a sound, your breathing, etc.) and when your mind wanders, you just return your focus back to your focus object.

I think if we incorporated meditation and similar techniques into our health care system, we would be healthier and happier.

For more information, see http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=7392433 (from ABC News, an interview with Herbert Benson, MD and see his books, The Relaxation Response, etc.)

-Glenn

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On Meditation

(Note: I am not a medically-trained professional. This information is for educational purposes only and isn’t a substitute for professional consultation (medical, etc.))

I meditate. I like it. I consider it to be a rather incredible wellness promoting technique. And I think it gives you a sense of control and power when life is tough; you can do something that can improve, and that can change things. I look at it, as each time I meditatate, I add a drop to a bucket. Over time, the bucket is filled and life chanes.

Many cultures, religions, etc. have a tradition of meditating. But, it can also be done as as a health promoting technique. And meditative states occur rather naturally on many occasions, as we do an activity, in which we lose oursleves in the moment. Meditation is about focusing on this moment, and not on the past of future.

I like to use water sounds on a CD that I have. I listen to the sounds and as my mind wanders, I gently return my focus to the sounds. Through the repition of this focus, wandering, return, things begin to change and after a while, I am out of the stressful mode that I was in.

While meditation takes practice, it can be done in many ways. Some people focus on their breathing, and even a moment of focus I think can be helpful. You can meditate while eating, or washing the dishes, or even when walking. The key is to pay attention to something and as your mind wanders, return it to your focus. You can do this for a few seconds at a time or for a longer duration. And yes, there has been scientific study of meditation.

-Glenn
.

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Stress Reduction and Relaxation, including Meditation: Resources
Mind-Body Medical Institute MBMI.org
Center for Mindfulness (U. of MA) Medical Center: www.umassmed.edu/content.aspx?id=41252
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Programs listed across the country: www.umassmed.edu/MBSR/public/searchmember.aspx
Mindfulness For Dummies by Shamash Alidina and see the free resources on his website: www.learnmindfulness.co.uk/category/free-mindfulness/
Prevention www.prevention.com
Try a Mindfulness Exercise: www.newharbinger.com/bookstore/productdetails.cfm?SKU=7086
A Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Workbook by Bob Stahl, PhD and Elisha Goldstein, PhD.
The Love Response by Eva Selhub, MD.
The Brain that Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science by Norman Doidge, MD.
Guided Imagery for Healing Children and Teens, Ellen Curren, RN
Calming Your Anxious Mind (Jeffrey Brantley, MD)
The Mindful Way Through Depression by Mark Williams et al.
The Mind and the Brain: Neuroplasticity and the Power of Mental Force by Jeffrey M. Schwartz, MD and  Sharon Begley
Stough Breathing Techniques breathingcoordination.com
Peaceful Mind: Using Mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral Psychology to Overcome Depression.
See New Harbinger Publications (Many Good Books) www.newharbinger.com
Tai Chi
Biofeedback Training
Some Forms of Qigong; there are many. Please check with your doctor, before trying.
Chilel Qigong www.chilel.com.
Spring Forest Qigong www.springforestqigong.com
Chow Qigong www.eastwestqi.com.
Academy for Guided Imagery Go
Yoga