absenteeism, see sick leaves
ACC (anterior cingulate cortex), 112, 117, 119-21
acceptance, 11, 16-17, 66, 104
Acem, 91, 103, 108, 141, 144-45, 157-65, 167, 169
Acem Meditation, see meditation, Acem
Acem Yoga, see yoga, Acem
ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone), 81
action, 17, 108, 121, 130, 132
adrenal glands, 25-26, 78-79, 81, 83, 86-87
adrenaline, 25, 78-79, 81, 86-87
adrenocorticotropic hormone, see ACTH
affect negative, 116 positive, 26, 116
aldosterone, 83
alertness, 9, 19, 70-72, 81, 129, 136
allergy, 72
alpha waves, 9, 19, 21, 25, 108-111, 113, 120
alternative therapy, 13, 35, 92
amygdala, 126-127
anterior cingulate cortex, see ACC
anti-depressants, 92, 99, 101
anxiety, 8, 11, 15, 30, 33-34, 49, 61-65, 69-70, 72, 74-75, 81, 83, 93, 104, 111, 116, 121, 127, 139
asthma, 72
Astin, J., 61-62, 64-66, 101
attention (cf. awareness), 6-7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17-18, 21, 54, 63, 70-71, 78, 99, 111-21 flexibility of, 71 focus(ed), 11, 17-18, 21, 71, 78, 117-20
attentional-blink deficit, 114
autogenic training, 12, 16, 44-46, 58, 78
autonomic functions, 112
autonomic nervous system, 11, 38, 40-41, 51, 121, 123-24
awareness (cf. attention), 11, 14-18, 21, 26, 71, 115, 157
Beatles, 12
Benson, Herbert, 12, 16, 22, 96, 104
beta-endorphin, 57, 85-86
biofeedback, 31
blood pressure (hypertension), 7, 9, 11, 21-23, 25-28, 34, 37-38, 42, 56, 59, 72, 79-82, 87, 89, 29-32, 135-36, 157 diastolic, 27, 42, 132-33 systolic, 27, 132-33
body scanning, 17, 63
brain, 7-11, 14, 19, 21-23, 25-26, 28, 35, 51-53, 78-79, 81, 87-89, 93, 106-15, 117, 119-21, 123, 126-27, 151
brain activity, 8, 19, 25, 110, 112, 115, 117
brain areas (brain centres), 21-22, 107, 109, 111, 117, 119, 121, 126
brain centres, see brain areas
brain imaging (cf. fMRI; SPECT), 21, 35, 117, 119
brain plasticity, 114
brain waves, 109
breathing, 11-12, 15-18, 21-22, 25, 31, 63, 72, 78, 80, 85, 96, 111-12, 115, 120
breathing capacity, 80
breathing exercise, 12, 31, 72, 85
Buddhism, 12, 16-18, 35, 80, 113, 117
Buddhist meditation, see meditation, Buddhist
burnout syndrome, 77-78, 81, 87
cancer, 33, 72, 74-75, 144
cardiovascular disease, 26-28
cholesterol, 23, 27-28, 129-30, 132-34, 136
chronic fatigue syndrome, 101
Cinderella fibres, 9, 147, 151-53
Cinderella hypothesis, 147-48, 151
cingulate cortex (cf. ACC), 119
cingulate gyrus, 126-27
cingulum, 21
cognitive therapy, 99, 103
comfort, 37, 42, 59
compassion, 18, 113
competition, 37, 46-47, 49, 56, 58, 144
complementary treatment, 12, 33, 35, 72-73, 75
concentration, 8, 11-13, 16-18, 23, 31, 45, 64, 68, 70-72, 78, 85, 104, 108-10, 112, 115, 119, 121, 129-30, 136, 160, 163 relaxed, 112, 121 sustained, 111
concentrative techniques (cf. directed techniques), 8, 11, 16-17, 68, 70-72, 78
consciousness, 19, 35, 63, 107
constipation, 104
control, 66 locus of, 66
coping, 8-9, 11, 30, 46, 61-62, 65, 92, 143-44
cortex, 9, 21-22, 79, 107-13, 115-21, 123-24, 126-27 prefrontal, 9, 21-22, 107-08, 111, 115-17, 119-21, 123-24, 126-27 right, 116, 121 thickness of, 22
corticotropin-releasing hormone, see CRH
cortisol, 8, 25-26, 77-83, 85-87, 89
CRH (corticotropin-releasing hormone), 81, 85-86
Cro-Magnon, 124
Davidson, Richard, 113, 115-16
denial, 139, 142-44
depression, 8, 26, 30, 33-34, 61-65, 72, 74-75, 77, 83, 87, 104, 116, 124, 126-27
Dhammakaya, see meditation, Dhammakaya
diarrhoea, 104
directed techniques (cf. concentrative techniques), 45-46, 58, 130
ECG (electrocardiography), 111
EEG (electro-encephalography), 9-10, 19, 21, 25, 108-09, 111, 113-15, 117
electrocardiography, see ECG
electro-encephalography, see EEG
electromyography, see EMG
EMG (electromyography), 31, 97
emotion, 11, 15-17, 21-22, 65, 116-17, 126
emotional pressure, 61, 142-44
emotional processing, see mental processing
emotional profile, 116
energy, 30, 44, 62, 64, 74, 87, 104, 129, 135, 138-39, 142, 157
epinephrine, see adrenaline
Eriksen, Hege, 124
executive (motor) area, 108
fatigue, 26, 30, 33, 101, 124, 157
fibromyalgia, 101
fight-or-flight response, 81
fMRI (cf. brain imaging), 21, 120-21
free mental attitude, 12-13, 15-16, 18, 31, 45, 121, 131, 135, 160-63
frontal lobe, 111
frontal midline, 111-12, 121
galvanic skin resistance, 23, 96
gamma waves, 9, 19, 113, 121 synchronisation of, 113-14
haemoglobin, 21
Hägg, G. M., 148
headache, 62, 65, 92, 95-96, 98-100, 104, 136
health mental, 66, 70 psychological, 64, 66
heart, 7-8, 21-23, 25, 37-42, 56, 58, 79-82, 85, 87, 96, 111-12, 121
heart rate, 7, 22-23, 25, 37-42, 56, 58, 79-82, 96, 121
heartbeat, 95, 111, 120
heart-rate variability (heart-rate variation), 25, 40-41
Hess, Walter, 22
Holen, Are, 12, 159, 162
Holroyd, Kenneth, 99
Hölzel, Britta, 120
HPA-axis, 81, 87
hypersensitivity (interpersonal sensitivity; oversensitivity), 30, 63-65
hypertension, see blood pressure
hypnosis, 12, 15
hypothalamus, 22, 79, 81, 112, 124
immune system, 43, 57, 59, 81, 87, 116, 121
indigestion, 72, 92
inner strength, 160, 162
insight, 160
insomnia, see sleep problems
insula, 22
interpersonal sensitivity, see hypersensitivity
irritable bowel syndrome, 104
irritable colon, 104
Kabat-Zinn, Jon, 62, 72, 99-100
Kagyupa, 113
Keefer, Laurie, 104
Kubota, Yasutaka, 111-12, 119
Kundalini meditation, see meditation, Kundalini
lactate, 44-46, 58
Lazar, Sara, 119
LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio, 133-34
learning, 19, 83, 113-14, 121
loving-kindness, 18, 113
lung function, 82
Lutz, Antoine, 113-14
Mahesh Yogi, 12
mantra (cf. meditation sound), 12, 15-16, 119, 158
meditation Acem, 7-9, 11-13, 15-17, 21-22, 26-27, 30, 34, 37, 44-47, 51, 56-59, 74, 77, 96-97, 99, 103-04, 119, 121, 129-30, 132-35, 137, 139, 141-45, 147, 153, 157-58, 160-65 body, 160-61 definition, 13-15 Dhammakaya, 18 Kundalini, 119 long, 21, 37, 40, 42, 51, 58, 160, 165, 167 mindfulness, 12, 16-18, 28, 30, 33-35, 63, 67, 70-72, 78, 93, 99, 101, 103, 116 non-religious, 156-57 object (vehicle) of, 11, 15-16, 22, 78 psychology of, 156-57, 159, 164 su-soku, 18, 25, 111, 121 Tibetan Buddhist, 117 transcendental (TM), 12-13, 16, 21, 28, 30, 34-35, 68, 77, 80, 83, 86, 108 walking, 18 Zen, 12, 16-18, 80, 108
meditation sound (cf. mantra), 15-16, 21, 51, 78, 96, 130, 157-58, 163
melatonin, 26, 37, 51-53, 56-57, 59
memory, 87, 114, 121, 136
mental attitude, 11-13, 15-16, 18, 31, 45, 68, 121, 131, 135, 160-63
mental calm, 6, 16, 21, 26, 62, 135
mental processing (emotional processing; psychological processing), 16, 31, 34, 135
mesencephalon, 119
metabolism, 22, 45, 51
mindfulness meditation, see meditation, mindfulness
mood, 8, 76-77, 83, 85, 87, 104, 115
mood change, 76-77, 115
motor units, 149-51
muscle activity psychogenic, 152-53
muscle fibres, 9, 147, 149, 150-51
muscular activity, 132, 147, 152, 153
muscular tonus (tone), 96-97, 132
muscular-skeletal disease (disorder;
Neanderthals, 9, 122-24
nerve parasympathetic, 23, 25, 40-41 sympathetic, 23, 25, 33, 38, 40-41, 81, 86, 112
nerve activity, 22-23, 25, 33
nerve cells, see neurons
nervousness, 61, 64, 75, 142-44
neurons (nerve cells), 19, 21, 87, 108-09, 113-14, 117, 149-51
neuroticism, 70
neurotransmitter, see transmitter substance
Newberg, Andrew, 117, 119
nondirected techniques, 8, 11, 16, 18, 44, 46, 58, 68, 72, 77, 108, 110, 129-30
noradrenaline, 23, 25-26, 38, 78-79, 81, 86-87
norepinephrine, see noradrenaline
Nyingmapa, 113
office yoga, see yoga, office
oversensitivity, see hypersensitivity
oxygen, 21, 96
oxygen consumption, 96
pain, 9, 11, 26, 31, 33, 35, 44, 57, 61, 72, 74, 77, 86, 90-97, 99-101, 104-05, 137, 139, 147-49, 151-53 abdominal, 104 back, 77, 100, 104 chronic, 72, 91-92, 95, 99-100 muscular, 9, 11, 31, 33, 90, 92, 147-48, 152-53 musculoskeletal, 147, 151 tolerance of, 33
pain threshold, 93
panic-symptoms, 72
parasympathetic, see nerve, parasympathetic
perception, 57, 71, 108, 114, 121
performance, 8, 23, 30, 37, 46-50, 56-58, 112, 153
personality traits, 142-43, 157
physiotherapy, 33, 100
prefrontal cortex, see cortex, prefrontal
progressive relaxation, 9, 12, 16, 27-28, 31, 68, 70, 129-30, 132-35, 137
psychological functioning, 144
psychological growth, 159
psychological problems, 8, 33, 61-65, 67-68, 74-75
psychological processing, see mental processing
psychological strain, 95, 147
psychotherapy, 16, 92
Qigong, 101
quality of life, 8-9, 11, 28, 31, 33-34, 64, 74-75, 91, 129-30, 134, 139, 144
reaction time, 80, 82
receiving (sensory) area, 108
receptive techniques, 70, 72
recovery, 36, 44, 51, 57
regression, 139, 142-44
relaxation, 6, 8-9, 11-13, 16, 19-20, 22-23, 25, 27-28, 31-34, 37-38, 40-46, 51, 53-54, 56-59, 62-63, 65, 68, 70, 74, 77-78, 83, 85-86, 88, 90-93, 96-99, 101, 104, 107-10, 112, 119-21, 123-24, 127, 129-30, 132-37, 141-42, 144, 147, 152-53, 157, 160-61 bodily, 112, 119, 121, 141, 157 physical, 11, 13, 42, 51, 104
relaxation response, 12, 16, 20, 22, 43, 51, 96, 104, 107, 120, 123
relaxation techniques, 12-13, 27-28, 44-46, 56-57, 62-63, 65, 68, 77-78, 83, 86, 88, 90-91, 97, 129-30, 134, 136-37, 141, 144
relaxed wakefulness, 9, 108-10, 120
retreat centre, 167, 169
self-confidence, 65
self-esteem, 30, 65
self-induction, 12
self-reflection, 124
self-understanding, 16
serotonin, 26, 53, 57, 87
sick leaves (absenteeism), 30-31, 38, 77, 147
skin resistance, see galvanic skin resistance
Slagter, Heleen A., 114
sleep, 9, 19, 22, 51-52, 54, 62, 64-65, 92, 95, 101-03, 109-10, 128-29, 134,136-37, 139-40, 142-43, 153, 157
sleep problems (sleep disturbances; insomnia), 9, 95, 101, 103, 128, 137, 140, 142-43
somatisation, 30, 62, 64-65
SPECT (cf. brain imaging), 117, 121
spontaneous (mental) activity, 11, 15-16, 19, 116, 130, 157
state of mind, 16, 18-19, 42, 83
stress, 8-9, 11-13, 16, 22-31, 33, 37-38, 40, 43-44, 46-47, 49, 51, 54, 56-59, 61-63, 65-68, 72, 75, 77-83, 85-89, 91-92, 95-96, 99-100, 104, 112, 116, 123-26, 129, 134, 139, 141-45, 147, 152-53, 157, 159-60 bodily, 91-92, 95-96 mental, 23, 25, 77 psychological, 26-27, 31, 63, 147-48
stress hormones, 8, 11, 25-26, 51, 77-78, 86
stress management, 9, 12-13, 16, 26, 30-31, 37, 46, 54, 56, 67-68, 77, 139, 141-45
stress reactivity, 44, 54, 56-57, 68, 85
stress reduction, 62-63, 65-68, 123, 139, 141, 144
stress response, 9, 11, 78-79, 81, 99, 123, 126
stress tolerance, 26, 28, 30
su-soku, see meditation, su-soku
sustained alertness, 70-71
sympathetic, see nerve, sympathetic
symptoms medical, 67-68, 74 physical, 22, 43, 61, 92 psychological, 11, 13, 24, 26, 30-31, 33, 64, 72, 74, 131, 135 psycho-somatic, 95
tension, 9, 11, 16, 22-23, 30-31, 33, 40, 46, 48-50, 58, 61-62, 70, 74, 93, 95-97, 99, 103-04, 129, 134-35, 138-39, 142-44, 147, 152-53 muscular, 9, 11, 16, 22, 31, 33, 95-97, 99, 103
thalamus, 119
theta waves, 9, 19, 25, 109-12, 121
Tibetan Buddhist meditation, see meditation, Tibetan Buddhist
TM, see meditation, transcendental (TM)
transcendental meditation, see meditation, transcendental (TM)
transmitter substance (neurotransmitter), 9, 23, 26, 38, 53, 87
trapezius muscle, 31, 97, 152-53
triglycerides, 129-30, 132-34, 136
Valentine, E. R., 70-71
vasopressin, 26
vipassana meditation, see meditation, vipassana
volitional (mental) activity, 15
vulnerability, 64, 142-43
Wallace, Robert, 110-11
walking meditation, see meditation, walking
well-being, 8, 26, 32-34, 41, 59, 66, 74-75, 86, 161
Williams, K. A., 68
work economy, 37, 44, 56
worry, 9, 30, 61, 64, 70, 142-44, 157
yoga, 9, 12, 30, 63, 72, 92, 141, 145 Acem, 141, 145 office, 141, 145
Zen meditation, see meditation, Zen