| Links & Resources
This page contains links to organizations, articles, books & CDs, clinical research and more:
Mindfulness, meditation and wellness programs
The Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at UMass Medical School, Worcester, MA
Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health (Lenox, MA)
Omega Institute (Rhinebeck, NY)
Insight Meditation Society (Barre, MA)
Vipassana Meditation Center (Shelburne Falls, MA)
Information about Mindfulness
Commonly Asked Questions about meditation and stress reduction, by Jeff Brantley, MD, Duke University
How to Bring More Mindfulness Into Your Life, by Jeff Brantley, MD
Definitions of Mindfulness by Wikipedia
Excerpts from the book Coming to Your Senses by Jon Kabat-Zinn:
The Center for Contemplative Mind in Society
Mindfulness coverage in mainstream media
Lotus Therapy — The New York Times, 2008
Study: Meditation Against ADHD — The Huffington Post, 2008
Seniors Transcend Back Pain With Meditation — ABC News, 2008
Easing pain through meditation illustrates mind's role in healing — Pittsburge Post-Gazette, 2008
Doctor’s orders: Cross your legs and say 'Om' — Los Angeles Times, 2007
Mindfulness Course a Hit for Pain Management (Text and Audio) — National Public Radio, 2007
How to Get Smarter, One Breath at a Time — Time Magazine, 2006
Stress relief through meditation gains focus — Boston Globe, 2006
Meditation Fining Converts Among Western Doctors — National Geographic, 2006
Science Explores Meditation's Effect on the Brain (Text and Audio) — National Public Radio, 2005
Buddha Lessons: A technique called 'mindfulness' teaches how to step back from pain and the worries of life — Newsweek Magazine, 2005
Meditation Gives Brain a Charge, Study Finds — Washington Post, 2005
What Makes Us Happy — University of Toronto, 2005
Peace of Mind — Columbia Missourian, 2005
Meditation — Businessweek Magazine, 2004
Calming the Mind — Time Magazine, 2003
A Therapy Gains Ground in Hospitals: Meditation — The New York Times, 1999
Stress: It's Worse Than You Think — Psychology Today, 1996
Clinical Research on Mindfulness and Stress Reduction
Many clinical studies have been conducted on the effects of mindfulness practices on people coping illnesses and health challenges including various cancers, heart disease, chronic pain, depression and anxiety. The following links provide a very small sample of the information available online.
Sites listing research:
The Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at UMass Medical School
Clinical studies on mindfulness at the Lab for Affective Neuroscience at the University of Wisconsin
Meditation for Health Purposes — NCCAM, National Institutes of Health
An Overview of Research into Mindfulness-Based Approaches to Health Care by at the University of Wales (UK)
Selected clinical studies:
Effect of mindfulness based stress reduction on immune function, quality of life and coping in women newly diagnosed with early stage breast cancer by Witek-Janusek, et al., 2008
Mindfulness-based stress reduction: a literature review and clinician's guide by Praissman, S., 2008
Relationships between mindfulness practice and levels of mindfulness, medical and psychological symptoms and well-being in a mindfulness-based stress reduction program, by Carmody, J. and Baer, R., 2008
One year pre-post intervention follow-up of psychological, immune, endocrine and blood pressure outcomes of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in breast and prostate cancer outpatients by Carlson, et al., 2007
Mindfulness meditation for the treatment of chronic low back pain in older adults: a randomized controlled pilot study by Morone, Greco, and Weiner, 2007
Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation by Richard Davidson, et al., 2002
Mindfulness-based stress reduction and health-related quality of life in a heterogeneous patient population by Diane Reibel, et al., 2001
The effect of a mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction program on mood and symptoms of stress in cancer outpatients by Michael Speca, et al., 2000
Recommended Books and Audio CDs
The following book and CD links are to pages at Amazon.com . If you make a purchase from these links, I will make a small commission on the sale (at no additional cost to you).
Books:
Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D.
Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D.
Coming To Your Senses by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D.
Heal Thy Self: Lessons on Mindfulness in Medicine by Saki Santorelli, Ed.D.
The Mindful Way through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness by Mark Williams, Ph.D, John Teasedale, Ph.D, Zindel Segal, Ph.D, and John Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D (includes CD of guided meditations by Jon Kabat-Zinn)
Calming Your Anxious Mind by Jeff Brantley, MD
The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hahn
Mindfulness in Plain English by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg, Ph.D.
Audio CDs:
Guided Mindfulness Meditations from Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. (includes the meditations described in the book Full Catastrophe Living)
Meditation for Optimum Health: How to Use Mindfulness and Breathing to Heal Your Body and Refresh Your Mind by Andrew Weil, MD and Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D.
Mindfulness for Beginners by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D.
Here for Now: Mindfulness Meditations (Goes with book listed above) by Elana Rosenbaum
A Healing Meditation for Cancer Patients and Their Loved Ones by Elana Rosenbaum
Breathing: The Master Key to Self Healing by Andrew Weil, MD and Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D.
Meditation for Beginners by Jack Kornfield
The Inner Art of Meditation by Jack Kornfield
Guided Meditations: For Developing Calmness, Awareness, and Love by Bodhipaksa
Guided Meditations for Busy People by Bodhipaksa
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"We took typical, middle-class Americans trying to cope with the demands of an active work life and active family life who reported being relatively stressed out," says Davidson. "And what we found out is that after a short time meditating, meditation had profound effects not just on how they felt but on their brains and bodies."
Richard Davidson, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, in Busienssweek Magazine, August 30, 2004
[Results from the clinical trial] provide evidence that a relatively brief mindfulness-based stress reduction program can effectively reduce mood disturbance, fatigue, and a broad spectrum of stress-related symptoms in cancer patients, consistent with other investigations of similar interventions with different populations. Those who attended the sessions and who meditated more had better outcomes than those who did not. It is reasonable to conclude that even greater benefits may accrue to participants who continue to practice over time and become more adept. Indeed, in other studies, experienced meditators were shown to have not only psychological benefits from mediation but also enhanced biochemical and physiological functioning when compared with nonmeditators.
Michael Speca, PsyD, et al, University of Calgary, Canada |
