Change your brain through mindfulness meditation

E-mail | Print | Comments () Posted by Deborah Kotz February 3, 2011 02:48 PM

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On Monday, I wrote an article for the Globe's g Health section detailing the many ways that cultivating mindfulness can make you happier and improve your health. That's the practice of being fully engaged in the moment -- whether you're washing dishes or staring at the traffic light in front of you -- rather than allowing your mind to wander.

I discussed a recent Massachusetts General Hospital study, which found that taking an 8-week class in mindfulness mediation could actually lead to changes in the brain. I also mentioned a Harvard study published in the journal Science that discovered that we're most unhappy when our minds are distracted and not focused on the task at hand.

I received a slew of positive e-mails and comments on this piece, with many of you asking me to provide links to the studies -- which I did above -- and more information on where to take a mindfulness class.

Here are links to institutions in the Boston area that offer mindfulness training that were mentioned in the article.

Boston Medical Center Nutrition and Weight Management Class

Cambridge Insight Meditation Center

University of Massachusetts Mindfulness Training Program

Massachusetts General Hospital Relaxation Response Resiliency Program

And watch the video below to take a virtual meditation class with renowned mindfulness practitioner Jon Kabat-Zinn, founding director of the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

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about the blog

Daily Dose gives you the latest consumer health news and advice from Boston-area experts. Deborah Kotz is a former reporter for US News and World Report. Write her at dailydose@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter at @debkotz2.

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