The Effects of Guided Imagery on Comfort, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress of Psychiatric Inpatients with Depressive Disorders

In this study patients reduced their depression by 17%, reduced anxiety by 13%, and reduced stress by 17%. Researchers led participants through deep diaphragmatic breathing exercises. Participants were also guided to relax each muscle group, similar to the progressive relaxation technique used in the Sleepy Cloud meditation in Sensational Meditation for Children (SMC). Participants were also guided to pay attention to smells and natural sounds to stimulate their senses, similar to the Here and Now exercise and the Time Machine meditation in SMC. They also experienced a sense of ease, safety, refuge, and positive images surrounding their uncomfortable situation, similar to The Happy Tree meditation in SMC.

Participants listened to a 21-minute guided imagery recording once a day for ten days. 

Link to published study

 

Imagery-Induced Relaxation in children’s Postoperative Pain Relief: A Randomized Pilot Study

This study shows children can reduce pain from surgery by 41% with guided imagery.  Children between the ages eight and twelve were guided to chose a favorite place and proceeded toward this place, similar to The Happy Tree and Inside Friends meditations in Sensational Meditation for Children.

Children listened to this 20-minute guided imagery and relaxation recording once a few hours after surgery.

Link to published study

 

Mindfulness Meditation Training in Adults and Adolescents with ADHD: A Feasibility Study

78% of the participants reduced their ADHD symptoms. 30% of those that did reduced their symptoms by at least 30%. The younger the subjects the more improvement they experienced after meditation training. The participants were guided to focus on their breathing, similar to the Me and My Zen meditation in Sensational Meditation for Children.

Subjects participated in seven 2.5 hour sessions of instruction.

Link to published study

 

Effects of Progressive Relaxation and Meditation on Cognitive and Somatic Manifestations of Daily Stress

Somatic means relating to the body.

In this study, participants reduced their depression, anxiety, and obsession-compulsion significantly. Participants practiced a mantra meditation, similar to the Me and My Mantra meditation in Sensational Meditation for Children. Participants were guided to sit comfortably, with eyes open and focus on a pleasant object. They repeated a Sanskrit mantra aloud at ever decreasing volume, until it became a whisper. Then they thought the word or phrase silently.

Participants practiced this meditation for twenty minutes twice a day.

Link to published study

 

Improving quality of life using compound mind-body therapies:

Evaluation of a course intervention with body movement and breath therapy, guided imagery, chakra experiencing and mindfulness

In this study, participants improved their emotional well-being by 35%, decreased their feelings of anger, contempt, disgust, guilt, fear, and nervousness by 45%, and improved their energy levels, concentration, and feelings of pleasure by 26%.

Participants enjoyed a workshop where they learned

1. Mindfulness meditation (similar to the Here and Now exercise in Sensational Meditation for Children (SMC))

2. Body awareness (similar to What Does my Body Have to Say meditation in SMC)

3. Liberating dance

4. Breathing therapy (similar to Me and My Zen meditation in SMC).

The workshop lasted seven days. Participants were tested before course began and 6 months after. Researches believe the course’s strong focus on awareness of feelings contributed to the improvements.

Link to published study

 

Practicing of meditation by school children and their levels of field dependence-independence, test anxiety, and reading achievement

This study shows third graders increased their field-independence by 45.6% and decreased their test anxiety with meditation. Preceding studies show, field-independence (which means to rely more on self as opposed to relying on outer environment), helps children perform better in school.

Children were guided to practice mindful meditation. Specifically they were asked to
keep their full attention inside, similar to noticing the five inner senses described in Sensational Meditation for Children (SMC). Children were also told if they find themselves thinking of something else, to bring their attention back to their breathing, as experienced in the Me and My Zen meditation in SMC.

Children practiced mindful mediation two times per week for eighteen weeks.

Link to published study

 

Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation

In this study, college students who learned meditation handled stress 32% better than the college students who did not learn meditation. Students were led to relax their muscles, similar to the Sleepy Cloud meditation in Sensational Meditation for Children (SMC). Students were also guided to adjust their breathing, similar to Me and My Zen meditation in SMC. As well as use mental imagery, as described in SMC as using our five inner senses.

Students practiced a 20-meditation once a day for five days.

Link to published study

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