Current Perspectives on the Use of Meditation to Reduce Blood Pressure

Table 1

Major types of mind-body interventions.

Major types of mind-body interventions	Subtypes	Description	Setting	Certification to administer	Dose	Standardization
Relaxation therapy	Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), biofeedback, relaxation-assisted biofeedback, autogenic training	Uses relaxation techniques to achieve physical and mental relaxation, often coupled with breathing exercises or mental imagery	Group or individual	Varies (health professionals, psychologists, therapists, etc.)	Varies (e.g., weekly sessions with homework assignments)	Not standardized
Stress-management therapy	N/A	Adjusts behavioral and psychological responses to stress through cognitive behavioral interventions	Group or individual	Varies	Varies	Not standardized
Zen meditation	N/A	Focuses attention on counting deep breaths or koans (riddles irresolvable by logic) to cultivate awareness	Mostly individual	Zen practitioner	Varies	Not standardized
Transcendental meditation (TM)	N/A	Takes attention beyond normal thinking processes until thought is transcended and a state of pure consciousness is achieved, beginning with repetition of a mantra	Mostly individual	Certified instructor through the Maharishi Vedic Education Foundation	Technique learned in a 7-step course or through personal instruction, practiced 15–20 min twice/day	Standardized
Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)	N/A	Uses meditation and stress-management techniques, including mindfulness skills, such as coping, sitting meditation, and yoga, to improve physical and emotional well-being	Group sessions with individual practice	Varies	8 weekly 2.5 hr. sessions, with at least 45 min. of daily practice 6 days/week, concluding with an 8 hr. mindfulness retreat with a therapist	Standardized