The relaxation response

The Relaxation Response, January 12, 2008
By Christopher D. Smithers "Time Traveler 54" (Knoxville, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This review is from: The Relaxation Response (Paperback)
I suffer from high blood pressure, and I attribute most of this maledy to stress. The guidance this book has provided me and the practice of the ideas is simply good for anybody. It is helping me to bring my blood pressure down, and I have found calmness in everyday. I couldn't say that prior. The book isn't a magic bullet against all that ails or is it?
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Helpful, but dated information, August 19, 2007
By Kim Dobson - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Relaxation Response (Paperback)
This book provided an invaluable synopisis of groundbreaking research into the importance of mind-body integration in medical science. However, some of the attempts at comparative cultural analyis seemed ethnocentric and just plain wrong in some instances. It remains curious that there was never any open acknowledgement that the instuctions given to elicit "the relaxation response" are precisely the same as meditation. Is this simply a renamed technique for those who, for whatever reason, are disinclined to acknowledge they meditate?
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Read This Classic , Learn to Meditate, Alter Your Life , March 23, 2007
By Jack Morris (Amityville, New York USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Relaxation Response (Paperback)
This is an absolutely priceless treatise on certain forms of meditation and their benefits. Dr. Benson demystifies meditation as an occult religious ritual and highlights all the scientifically researched practical benefits of starting and maintaining this wonderful practice. You will never purchase and read a more valuable introduction and tutorial on the subject! If you are reading this review you were meant to purchase and use this book. Just do it!
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Relaxation methods for everyone, January 9, 2007
By Ginger Thelen (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Relaxation Response (Paperback)
This book not only provides a detailed medical explanation of negative impacts of stress on your body, but also does a great job of explaining how to reverse it....the relaxation response. Several methods for evoking the relaxation response are included and I have found the most success with counting my breath. I have used this at home and in several stressful public situations (airport, mall, etc). Breathing is key!
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31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Good...but try to find an older edition. , May 16, 2006
By Mark "Bottom line only please..." (Raleigh, NC) - See all my reviews
I originally read The Relaxation Response when I was serving in Somalia in 1993. There was a table of free books donated from the states and the title peaked my interest....given the environment.
The original edition outlined an amazing technique to trigger the response (alert mind, relaxed body) several times a day, a technique that only took about 15 seconds and could be repeated over and over. It so attuned me to the effects of stress that I'd catch myself clenching my jaw/tightening my shoulders/etc...throughout the day, and sometimes I'd wake up in the middle of the night and immediately notice I was clenching my teeth, etc...)
You can probably understand the value of a technique such as this for someone who doesn't have the time, place or wherewithal to meditate during the day. This was a practical exercise that could be performed several times a day while going through life. I would do the exercise while on patrol-to keep my mind sharp.
Not so-the new edition! The new edition is about 95% a medical discussion about the effects of stress on the body with only the most general discussion on how to use relaxation techniques. There is no discussion on the 15 second technique which is covered in great detail in the original edition.
I have to give Benson credit though...this is an extremely responsibly written book, with no hidden agendas. (Unlike Bob Cooley who talks about flexibility like it is the ultimate panacea to all of life's ills.) Benson explains, based on the latest medical research, what relaxation/meditation will, and will not, do for you in terms of blood pressure, brain waves, breathing, oxygen intake, etc...
Do you know the difference between sleep, meditation, and hibernation? (if this were possible for humans) Benson explains the difference, and why one CAN NOT be a substitute for another. (Debunking the claims of TM practitioners in the 1970s who stated that 15 minutes of TM (trancendental meditation) was the equivalent of 4 hours of sleep.)
Benson also explains how other practices (yoga for example) have been proven to elicit the same benefits as the relaxation response.
I'd recommend this book to anyone, but try to find an older edition explaining the 15 second technique. Given the brevity of these books, try to get both editions: the new edition with the latest scientific findings, and the older edition for the actual relaxation response exercise.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Stress Relief and Indigo Dreams, February 22, 2006
By Denice A. Evans - See all my reviews
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This is an excellent book for anyone that wants to understand how stress works and how it hurts the body. Based on fact and research it is presented in an easy to read format. You can turn to any page and get something out of it that will make sense to you. I particularly liked the way Dr. Benson takes the mysticism out of meditation and shows scientifically how breathing, visualizing, muscular relaxation and positive statements will help your nervous system, circulatory system, respiratory system and immune system. This book has been around for 30 years and it's information is still powerful.
I also implemented Indigo Dreams:Adult Relaxation into my stress management routine. The Relaxation Response offered me the facts I needed to get me started and Indigo Dreams taught me how to do all four of the techniques Dr. Benson recommends. Both are highly recommended if you are looking for relaxation.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for laypersons and practitioners alike, June 16, 2005
By Dr. Psychology (Connecticut) - See all my reviews
Whether you are a mental or physical health practitioner or simply a person looking to explore relaxation techniques, this is an excellent book. Background information is provided, as well as an in depth look at how this works, why it works, and what effect it has on the body.
For practitioners, this book is a must read and I highly recommend that you request of your patients the reading of this book. Top quality work.
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4 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars good but not absolutely convincing, December 18, 2004
By Andrew C. LING (North York, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Relaxation Response (Hardcover)
This book is certainly an alternative to Transcendental Meditation. A person reading and mastering this book no longer has to spend the money to be taught by a TM teacher. Moreover, it clears up all the mysteries surrounding TM. TM is a good and effective way to invoke the power and wisdom of the subconscious mind and not infallible magic.
The most significant part of this book is the part dealing with the rules of eliciting Relaxation Response. The rest deals with basic medical and phisiological knowledge concerning stress and its related problems together with the test results the author used to justify the techniques he advocated.
I agree with him 100% but I am not sure if these theories and results can convince readers from all walks of life.
To me, poring over Charles Haanel's 'Master Key' and practicing the techniques in this book will be absolutely great and convincing.
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6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Relaxation Response Book in 2004, December 17, 2004
By S. Southall (VA, USA) - See all my reviews
While I have read the book, I can only imagine and possibly agree that it was a monumental breakthrough of research and findings when it was first published.
Upon reading it from a Year 2004 perspective, I found the first half of the book dealt ONLY with the medical aspects of stress on a person. It is not until you get to the SECOND half of the book, that it introductions relaxation techniques.
In addition, the stress factors they cite (divorce, loss of job, death in the family, new child, etc.) are out of date in terms of the ratings scale that was used in the year the book first was published.
NOT necessarily an easy read, but has merit, if you keep it in a time perspective.
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15 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond the Relaxation Response, November 5, 2003
By A Customer
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.
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