Therapy dog brings comfort to ER doctors on the frontlines

Good News Notes: “Heroes come in all shapes and sizes — this one just happens to have four legs and a furry coat. Wynn, a service dog in training, is bringing joy and comfort to the medical staff on the front lines of the coronavirus fight in Denver. The one-year-old yellow Labrador serves up cuddles…

Neuroscience study finds evidence that meditation increases the entropy of brainwaves

Good News Notes: “New research suggests that the brain displays a similar pattern of chaotic activity during meditation as it does during the psychedelic experience. The findings, published in the journal Neuroscience, indicate that meditation is associated with increased brain entropy. ‘We are currently witnessing a major psychedelic renaissance, both in science and society. Psychedelics…

Can mindfulness beat addiction? Research being done for more holistic practices

Good News Notes: “Researchers analyzed 6,400 people taking opioids for a variety of reasons, including chronic pain. They found moderate to large improvements for people who added meditation, hypnosis, and cognitive behavioral therapy to their daily routines.” Read the whole story here: http://weartv.com/news/local/can-mindfulness-beat-addiction-research-being-done-for-more-holistic-practices

Ted Danson Turns to Meditation for Pain Relief | Everyday Health

Good News Notes: “Actor Ted Danson has played characters from a lovable lothario in Cheers to a mercurial demon in The Good Place. But off-screen, he doesn’t play around when it comes to taking care of himself. In fact, Danson, 72, began practicing Transcendental Meditation (TM) in 1995, the same year that he tied the knot with actress Mary Steenburgen….

Benefits of Meditation for Runners – How Pros Meditate

 Good News Notes: “Olympic steeplechaser Colleen Quigley calls it her “secret weapon.”  Deena Kastor, the  American record holder in the marathon, says it’s aided her performance throughout her legendary career. And 2018 European marathon champion Koen Naert surmises he wouldn’t be where he is without it. These pros aren’t talking about a  training program, a special recovery…

NEUROIMAGING SHOWS THAT MEDITATION CHANGES THE BRAIN FOR THE BETTER

Good News Notes: “Meditation is nothing new: It’s a fixture of many religions, and has been practiced for thousands of years. However, scientific understanding of how meditation changes the body is ever-increasing. Some studies indicate that meditation can physically change the brain and body, capable of reducing blood pressure, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and…

Time To Think: Students Find Meditation, Mindfulness Help Them Calm Stress

Good News Notes: “At George Washington High School in Denver, in the dance room, a couple of dozen students sit in chairs in a half-circle, silent, feet on the floor, eyes closed. Instructor Beverly Jacobson speaks softly.” “It’s Mindful Monday, a new part of the students’ physical education class where Jacobson uses the Inner Strength…

Chronic Pain Eased With Meditation And Lower Doses Of Opioids

Good News Notes: “There’s new evidence that mind-body interventions can help reduce pain in people who have been taking prescription opioids — and lead to reductions in the drug’s dose.” “In a study published this month in JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers reviewed evidence from 60 studies that included about 6,400 participants. They evaluated a range of…

Two studies reveal benefits of mindfulness for middle school students

Good News Notes: Mindfulness is focusing one’s thoughts on the present moment and letting thoughts, worries, etc. about past or future events go. These studies showed middle schoolers who were taught mindfulness demonstrated less stress and anxiety than the control group. These results show promise for using mindfulness techniques to help our children not only…