Spiritual Retreats Benefit Well-Being

In her September 2011 issue of Transmutation News, Sandra Ingerman writes about the Healing the Heart Study conducted with the University of Michigan Medical School’s Program for Integrative Medicine.

As disclosed therein and succinctly stated, heart patients who participated in a four-day Medicine for the Earth retreat inclusive of meditation, guided imagery, drumming, journal writing and outdoor activities saw immediate improvement in tests that measured depression and hopefulness. The measurement of these improvements was subsequently persistent for the follow-up testing at 3 and 6 months.

Lead author of the study, Associate Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School as well as Director of their Integrative Medicine Program, Sara Warber MD says, “The study shows that a spiritual retreat like the Medicine for the Earth program can jumpstart and help to maintain a return to psycho-spiritual well-being.” She goes on to say, "Our work adds an important spiritual voice to the current discussion of the importance of psychological well-being for patients facing serious medical issues, such as acute coronary artery disease.”

While Sandra Ingerman speaks of use of each of the techniques referenced above and more, I am noting herein the link to nature as it can help with regaining one’s sense of well being. She wrote “ … And the earth, air, water, and the sun give us life. We went outside to sit with a tree as a time to relax and feel our connection with the heartbeat of the earth. And then we took short walks in nature while appreciating all that the earth, water, air, and the sun give us so that we may thrive.”

If you are interested this study was also published in the July issue of Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing.