Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction is a healing approach that combines meditation and yoga. Developed by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn in the 1970s, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction aims to address the unconscious thoughts, feelings, and behaviors thought to increase stress and undermine your health.
What Does Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Involve?
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction is an eight-week program that involves training in mindfulness meditation and yoga. Participants generally meet once weekly.
In mindfulness meditation, individuals strive to cultivate a greater awareness of the present moment. By increasing their mindfulness, participants in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction aim to reduce their overall arousal and emotional reactivity and to gain a deeper sense of calm.
Uses for Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction is said to benefit individuals dealing with the following health conditions or problems:
- ADHD
- anxiety
- depression
- chronic pain
- stress
- fatigue
- anger
- headaches
- high blood pressure
- sleep problems
Benefits of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
Here's a look at Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction's potential health benefits, as tested in scientific studies:
1) Pain Relief
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction may help relieve pain and improve psychological well-being in people dealing with chronic pain conditions, according to a study published in 2010. Researchers found that study members with arthritis showed the greatest improvement in health-related quality of life after undergoing Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, while participants with chronic headache/migraine had the smallest improvement.
2) Stress Management
For a report published in 2009, scientists sized up ten studies on Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and found that the program is able to reduce stress levels in healthy people. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction also appeared to reduce anxiety and increase empathy.
3) Better Sleep
Some studies suggest that Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction may help reduce certain factors (such as worrying) that contribute to sleep problems, according to a report published in 2007. However, in their analysis of seven studies on Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and sleep disturbance, the report's authors found insufficient evidence of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction's ability to significantly improve sleep quality and duration.
Should You Try Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction?
If you're considering the use of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, make sure to pursue training at a university medical center, hospital, or clinic, where classes are taught by qualified health professionals.
Sources:
Chiesa A, Serretti A. "Mindfulness-based stress reduction for stress management in healthy people: a review and meta-analysis." J Altern Complement Med. 2009 15(5):593-600.
Duke Integrative Medicine. "Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction".
Rosenzweig S, Greeson JM, Reibel DK, Green JS, Jasser SA, Beasley D. "Mindfulness-based stress reduction for chronic pain conditions: variation in treatment outcomes and role of home meditation practice." J Psychosom Res. 2010 68(1):29-36.
Winbush NY, Gross CR, Kreitzer MJ. "The effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on sleep disturbance: a systematic review." Explore (NY). 2007 3(6):585-91.
