The Relaxation Response Author:Herbert Benson When Dr. Herbert Benson introduced this simple, effective, mind/body approach to relieving stress twenty-five years ag, his book became an instant national bestseller. Since that time, millions of people have learned the secret--without high-priced lectures or prescription medicines. The Relaxation Response has become the classic referenc... more »e recommended by most health care professionals and authorities to treat the harmful effects of stress.Discovered by Dr. Benson and his colleagues in the laboratories of Harvard Medical School and its teaching hospitals, this revitalizing, therapeutic approach is now routinely recommended to treat patients suffering from heart conditions, high blood pressure, chronic pain, insomnia, and many other physical ailments. It requires only minutes to learn, and just ten to twenty minutes of practice twice a day.« less
Over the years, I have given this book to a dozen or more people. I always buy used copies I find, just to give them away. It has a basic, no frills body-scan relaxation that anyone can do. If stress and anxiety plague you, and meditation is no your cup of tea, try this.
A very helpful book detailing the scientific proof meditation has health benefits. For doubters, it is very helpful. Benson does give a two page step-by-step explanation of the process.
I have given copies to several people, including high school students and they have found it life-changing
Wish I hadn't bought this book. Waste of time/book credits because rather than a how-to on mediation it's instead it's a long and detailed "why." It really feels like a short article that was turned into a book simply for the sake of publishing a book. I could have just gone to their website to learn and master the basic technique.
Interesting book. I would ONLY get this latest edition, with the revised forward/anniversary edition. The forward included info on what part of the original book was most relevant according to later research and has summaries of other books that were spun off the original book for further information. Once I got past the revised forward, the rest of the book was only SKIM-worthy.
The basic premise is that there is a flight-and-fight response, and this is an opposite relaxation response. The cardiologist was looking for a better way to improve his patient's lives than take the drugs he saw had bad side effects. He was able to prove that basic self-care actions such as meditation or prayer could induce a relaxation response that was beneficial.
The revised edition includes why the doctor has had trouble getting other doctors to adopt these practices and his efforts to get it included in med school curriculum. Has info on attempts to scientifically prove which techniques work, etc.
Once you have that introduction, you can get the most recent info on how to actually do the relaxation techiques from web searches at various hospital and non-profit websites.
