Meditation at Work
Last updated: 07/09/2006 - 10:45
You may benefit from an intensive programme that teaches meditation skills to help reduce the psychological and physical effects of high stress, according to a new study.
Researcher Kimberly A Williams recruited 62 stressed-out people. She found that the participants who underwent what was termed 'mindfulness training' experienced an average 54% reduction in stress within three months. Those who took part in the study also reported a 46% drop in medical symptoms over the three-month follow-up period.
Intensive
The study intervention was an intensive programme involving a total of 28 hours of group learning over an eight-week period, including 2½ hour classes once a week and one eight-hour retreat. Participants learned four methods of meditation, general yoga postures and other techniques for coping with stress, as well as how to apply these techniques to their lives.
"The purpose of mindfulness training is for participants to gain greater insight into their perceptions, reactions and behaviours in life situations," says Williams. "Through the practice of mindfulness, subjects are taught to consciously respond to stressful situations in their daily life."
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