(08-11-12) Mindfulness courses
by Kiva Bottero

(NaturalNews) Research suggests that up to 90 percent of all medical
conditions are stress-related, which would easily rank stress as the world's
number one killer. With mounting evidence backing up this claim, it's no
surprise that stress-reduction programs have been popping up all over the
place.

One such program, mindfulness-based stress reduction, has a solid track
record. Pioneered by Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD. over 30 years ago, MBSR is a
derivative of mindfulness, a technique that's been practiced by Buddhists and
meditation practitioners for thousands of years. To practice mindfulness means
to be non-judgmentally aware of what is going on in the present moment. It is
both a secular meditation practice and a way of life that requires no prior
meditation experience. Mindfulness-based stress reduction is designed
specifically to deal with health-related and quality of life issues.

MBSR program
Mindfulness-based stress reduction is typically taught as an eight-week
program, delivered through weekly half-hour classes and a one-day retreat on a
weekend. Tens of thousands have gone through this mindfulness course in over
200 locations around the world.

The program offers a nice balance of participation and structure. Mindfulness
meditations are guided by an experienced instructor, so no previous meditation
experience is necessary. Mindful yoga and stretching are also offered to better
engage the body. Other practical exercises include mindful communication and
group dialogue to help practitioners learn to deal with real-world stressors.
There are also home assignments such as audio-based guided mindfulness
meditations to ensure regular practice between sessions.

Benefits of mindfulness
MBSR is not considered an alternative to mainstream medicine, but a complement
to it - a highly effective complement. Practitioners have reported a number of
benefits, such as a better ability to relax, an improved ability to cope with
stressful situations, greater energy, and improved self-esteem. But the
benefits are not just related to stress, MBSR helps with a variety of medical
conditions, including:

* Chronic pain

* Heart disease

* Asthma

* Skin disorders

* Anxiety

* Depression

* Sleep disturbances

The mindfulness-based stress reduction program has also helped people realize
an overall improvement in wellness as well as helping many to learn effective
strategies for preventing future illness.

Jon Kabat-Zinn and the Center for Mindfulness
Kabat-Zinn has a unique background both as professor of medicine at the
University of Massachusetts and as a practitioner of meditation, which have
lent legitimacy to MBSR, helping it to become the popular program that it is
today.

The Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society is within the
University of Massachusetts Medical School. With the backing of a major
university, Kabat-Zinn and his colleagues have developed a wide body of
research that support mindfulness-based stress reduction's efficacy.

Research
With a strong focus on scientific investigation, the Center for Mindfulness
has conducted a number of studies to test mindfulness-based stress reduction.
"Since the inception of the Stress Reduction Clinic, MBSR research at UMass and
other academic medical centers has shown consistent, reliable, and reproducible
demonstrations of major and clinically relevant reductions in medical
diagnoses."

The Center for Mindfulness has found that the majority of those who complete
the eight-week mindfulness course report lasting decreases in physical and
psychological symptoms. Mindfulness-based stress reduction - it's effective and
it's backed by scientific research. No wonder it's so popular.

Sources:

Stress Reduction Program brochure
(http://www.umassmed.edu)

Center for Mindfulness - University of Massachusetts
Medical School: Stress Reduction Program (http://www.umassmed.edu/Content.aspx?
id=41254)

Jon Kabat-Zinn: Biographical Information
(http://www.umassmed.edu/Content.aspx?id=43102)

About the author:
Kiva Bottero is a freelance writer and editor. He writes for a variety of
publications, including The Mindful WordGreen Building Canada and Green Homes
For Sale.

News

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In evidenza

"L'informazione presente nel sito serve a migliorare, e non a sostituire, il rapporto medico-paziente."

Per coloro che hanno problemi di salute si consiglia di consultare sempre il proprio medico curante.