Docs and Buddhists Unite

Written by Kathryn Savage

Meditation, once reserved for zen centers and the last five minutes of yoga class is becoming an increasingly popular form of therapy among the Freudian set.

"Mindfulness Meditation" as it's called, is a lesson in everything old is new again. It is a new practice with roots in the fifth-century B.C. The New York Times recently published a report on this therapeutic exercise that requires participants to focus on breathing, and play "mental catch-and-release of emotions" that run through their consciousness. Sound like a bunch of hippy crap? Think it's something you might want to try?

Here is the lowdown: "Mindfulness Meditation"

"Practitioners find a comfortable position, close the eyes and focus first on breathing, passively observing it. If a stray thought or emotion enters the mind, they allow it to pass and return attention to the breath. The aim is to achieve focused awareness on what is happening moment to moment.

Studies find that it can help manage chronic pain. The findings are mixed on substance abuse. Two trials suggest that it can cut the rate of relapse in people who have had three or more bouts of depression."

For more information read the New York Times article here.

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