The World of Relaxation: A Guided Mindfulness Meditation Practice for Healing in the Hospital And/or At (Audiobook)

This program was released in 1982 and re-mastered in 2009. The World of Relaxation was and still is a novel and radical use of media, aimed at reaching out to patients lying in bed in the hospital and inviting them to experiment inwardly, with Jon's guidance, in bringing mindful awareness to their present-moment circumstances, utilizing the occasion of having to lie in bed for some time - whatever the listener's medical condition and prognosis - to do something for him or herself to promote healing of the mind and body, as a vital complement to whatever the health care system and one's doctors are doing by way of medical treatments and rehabilitation. Over one hundred hospitals have used this program over the years on their in-house television channels, and doctors often prescribe it to their patients, recommending that they practice with it several times a day. The program is meant to be "done" by the listener, rather than listened to. During most of the time, the listener is encouraged to have his or her eyes closed. The practices in The World of Relaxation are guided meditations similar to the formal practices in MBSR (mindfulness-based stress reduction), particularly mindfulness of breathing, body sensations, thoughts and emotions, and the body scan. The original harp music by Georgia Kelly was composed specifically for this program and is played by the composer. Harp music has been associated with healing since pre-biblical times. Mindfulness, one's capacity to inhabit the present moment with non-judgmental awareness, deepens over the course of a single session and even more, through repeated practicing with this program over days, weeks, months and years.