The Relaxation Response
Author: Herbert Benson, Miriam Z. Klipper
List Price: $6.99
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ISBN: 0380006766
Publisher: HarperTorch (01 August, 1976)
Sales Rank: 773
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 3 out of 5
Great information, but it is there anything new here?
The message of this book could be summarized as "Relaxation is good for your health. You can relax by 1)Finding a quiet place 2) Sitting in a comfortable position/posture that will keep you alert but won't lead you to sleep 3) choosing a mental device that will let you concentrate 4) maintaining a passive attitude during this period". The rest of this book goes into the health dangers of stress (as understood in 1975),the health benefits of relaxation and how it differs from sleep, different ways to evoke the relaxation response, and how the relaxation response has been evoked throughout history in the context of various cultures and religions. I think this book is of great historical interest because it was one of the first attempts to expose the dangers of stress in a clear way (I found his discussion on how high blood pressure leads to heart disease particularly illustrating) and gave scientific validity to age-old ways of treating it without involving the methods traditionally sanctioned by Western medicine such as surgery and high-priced pills. His findings are based on research he performed with Transcendental Meditation followers, so he spends much effort on qualifying his conclusions, adding disclaimers, and otherwise protecting himself from possible attacks because of his work with such a fringe group. I think this limits the practical usefulness of the book and makes it somewhat dated, particularly since no one today questions that stress is bad and relaxation good. I think a more appropriate revision of this book should include not just a new introduction by the author, but also references to current research on which meditation techniques or approaches bring the most tangible health benefits and how they differ from placebos. A new assesment on the advantages of modern medicine vs. alternative therapies for preventing heart disease would also be in place. By being properly updated, a book of this nature would be very influential in setting a balance between the new age crowd that has little regard for science in medicine, and the medical establishment that has a vested interest in the status quo and thus rejects alternative medicine as a whole.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Beyond the Relaxation Response
Prior to becoming a Christian I practiced a form of Eastern meditation. Even though my Christian faith meant very much to me, I missed the ongoing peace and calm I received from meditation. I could not seem to incorporate the benefits of my Bible study and prayer time into my daily life. About a month ago I read the Beyond the Relaxation Response. I decided to try Dr. Benson's simple technique which is based on the same principles of Eastern meditation. Instead of using a mantra I used a term from the Bible. Immediately I felt like I was right back were I left off years ago. I have now come full circle, adding the Relaxation Response to my Christian faith. As an RN and a lay counselor I see many possibilities for using this technique to bring relaxation and relieve stress. As a Christian I believe this is a technique to help incorporate our prayer time experience with God into our daily lives.
Rating: 5 out of 5
EXCELLENT information and practical guide to the exercise!
Top notch book on producing a meditative state, called here the relaxation response. Good information also about various traditions of producing the relaxation response. For arguably the best book on reducing stress and improving relaxation (and actually a lot more too) check out EFFORTLESS WELLBEING by Evan Finer. Amazing would be an understatement for that book. The Relaxation Response is a classic and should be read if you have not. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! CLASSIC! Similar Products
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