2 papers in the library · publishing 2014-2024
Exercise and sport sciences reviews October 1, 2024 Hirofumi Tanaka, Daroonwan Suksom
Walking meditation, a Buddhist practice emphasizing mind-body interaction, improves cardiometabolic and functional fitness in clinical populations. In some key measures, it yields greater benefits than traditional walking programs.
Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) May 1, 2014 Susaree Prakhinkit, Siriluck Suppapitiporn, Hirofumi Tanaka et al.
A randomized trial compared Buddhist walking meditation (BWM) with traditional walking exercise (TWE) in 45 elderly adults aged 60-90 with mild-to-moderate depressive symptoms. Both exercise groups improved in muscle strength, flexibility, agility, balance, cardiorespiratory endurance, and vascular function (flow-mediated dilation). Depression scores decreased only in the BWM group. BWM also reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, cortisol, and interleukin-6, while both groups lowered total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and C-reactive protein. The authors conclude that BWM appears to confer greater overall improvements than TWE.