The Relaxation Response is a book written in 1975 by Herbert Benson, a Harvard physician, and Miriam Z. Klipper. The response is an autonomic reaction elicited by a simple, secular version of Transcendental Meditation (“TM”), a yogic meditation technique, presented for people in the Western world.
Benson writes in his book, “We claim no innovation but simply a scientific validation of age-old wisdom”. People from the Transcendental Meditation movement, who felt they could reduce blood pressure using TM, visited Harvard Medical School in 1968, asking to be studied. The school, which at the time was studying the relationship of monkeys’ behavior and blood pressure, told them “No, thank you.” But when they persisted, Benson told them he would study them. He met with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi first to find out if he could agree in advance to any outcome, which Yogi Mahesh did. Further studies on subjects with high blood pressure showed that meditation over several weeks lowered blood pressure by a statistically significant amount.
Benson developed the idea of the response, which counters the fight-or-flight response described during the 1920s by Walter Bradford Cannon at the Harvard Medical School.
According to Benson more than 60 percent of all visits to healthcare providers are related to stress. It causes the “fight or flight” hormones, epinephrine and nor epinephrine, to secrete into the bloodstream. This incites or exacerbates a number of conditions. They include hypertension, headaches, insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome and chronic low back pain, as well as heart disease, stroke and cancer.
The immune system works best when relaxed. He said about twenty deep breaths per day, done “with intention” makes you relaxed. According to Benson – Once or twice a day for 10 to 20 minutes, sit in a relaxed position, eyes closed, and repeat a word or sound as you breathe. Some people use such words as “love” or “peace.” Others say traditional prayers. or follow this therapeutic recording.
This present BRT is an effort to bring you a relaxed feel to both your mind and body during current global pandemic situation of COVID-19. Healthy coping styles definitely contribute you to stay immune with new normal, being well, mentally and physically relaxed.
Source of motivation and training – Dr V Chandra Mohan, Retired Clinical Psychologist from DEFENCE. President of PAPA – Professional Applied Psychologists Association.
Script translation into Kannada by Dr Rudrawar Venkata Reddy. Professor in Psychology, Gulbarga.
Presenter – Mrs. Rajalakshmi Kowshik Consultant Counseling Psychologist, Bangalore.
For the same BRT in English language click this link
Music direction and technical support provided by Mr T S Ramesh, Bangalore.
our team’s intention is to facilitate mankind to promote towards emotion oriented coping techniques. During pandemic crisis this popular effective relaxation is fruitful to apply in routine lifestyle.
