A Longitudinal Single Case Study on Short-Duration Mind-Body Relaxation and Rejuvenation Technique Inspired from Ancient Mālā Japa
Anurag Jayswal, Kabita Devi, Bhabesh Deka, Deepeshwar Singh, Ramesh Chandra Deka, Suvendra Kumar Ray
Multidisciplinary Research Journal January 21, 2025 DOI: 10.63635/mrj.v1i1.14 (opens in new tab) via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA middle-aged person practiced a short-duration meditation method called mind-body relaxation and rejuvenation technique (MBRRT), inspired by ancient mālā japa, for two and a half years. Over 60 practice sessions, the participant slept well in 32 sessions (more than 50%), slept only for some time in 19 sessions (more than 30%), felt the sensation of sleep in 4 sessions, and did not experience sleep in 5 sessions. Calmness, relaxation, and rejuvenation were reported after every session. A single-trial EEG showed increased delta, theta, and alpha brain waves and decreased beta and gamma waves across all brain regions during MBRRT, supporting the observed sleep and relaxation.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Case study Longitudinal Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A middle-aged person |
| Intervention | Mind-body relaxation and rejuvenation technique (MBRRT) |
| Duration | Two and a half years |
| Keywords | Rejuvenation Duration music Relaxation psychology Art Neuroscience |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key finding | The mind-body relaxation and rejuvenation technique (MBRRT) was associated with sleep in most sessions and with increased low-frequency and decreased high-frequency brain waves on EEG. |
Abstract
In this case study, we describe the experience of a short-duration meditation method called mind-body relaxation and rejuvenation technique (MBRRT), inspired by the ancient mālā japa. A middle-aged person practiced it for a period of two and a half years. During the MBRRT performance, the experience in terms of sleep was collected through a self-report proforma for 60 practice sessions. It was observed that the participant could sleep well in 32 sessions (more than 50%), could sleep only for some time in 19 sessions (more than 30%), could feel the sensation of sleep in 4 sessions, and only in 5 sessions, the participant did not experience sleep. In addition, the participant expressed calmness, relaxation, and rejuvenation after the MBRRT in all the sessions. A single-trial electroencephalogram (EEG) study was also performed on the participant during meditative and non-meditative resting states. It was observed that the low-frequency brain waves such as delta, theta, and alpha increased during the MBRRT performance whereas the high-frequency brainwaves, beta, and gamma got lowered in all the brain regions such as frontal, central, parietal, occipital, and temporal. The EEG result supported the sleep and relaxation experienced by the participant due to MBRRT. We believe the easy-to-perform method may be adapted for brief sleep or naps and fast relief from a stressful and exhausted mind.