Did you know that relaxation response techniques can greatly reduce health care costs? According to recent a study by Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, regular practice of yoga and meditation can reduce the need for health care services by 43%.
According to the Harvard University Gazette, “The paper’s authors noted that stress-related illnesses, such as anxiety and depression, are the third-highest causes of health expenditures in the United States after heart disease and cancer (which also are affected by stress).”
Co-author of the study, Harvard Medical School’s Dr. Herbert Benson, first introduced the straight forward and effective mind/body approach over 40 years ago in his book “The Relaxation Response”.
Benson found that practicing simple relaxation techniques even just 10 to 20 minutes a day can have a positive impact on heart conditions, high blood pressure, chronic pain, insomnia, and many other physical ailments.
Not only is that a major improvement for one’s overall health, but that means less money spent on medical bills and more time and money to spend on things you really want to do!
So let’s all take a few minutes to meditate, to breathe, to relax every day and find ourselves on a healthier, and in turn, wealthier path.