Meditation Boosts Compassion and Calmness in Teachers

A combination of modern methods for regulating emotions and ancient meditation practices appears to be very effective for boosting the emotional lives, compassion and calmness levels, in teachers.

Scientists at the University of California in San Francisco (UCSF) found that this approach reduces depression, anxiety and stress levels in this population, while at the same time boosting their awareness of others’ emotions, PsychCentral reports.

Over the years, studies have linked meditation to a host of beneficial effects on the human body, ranging from a reduced perception of pain to improvements in metabolism and blood pressure.

“The findings suggest that increased awareness of mental processes can influence emotional behavior,” explains the lead author of the research, UCD Department of Psychiatry Health Psychology Program director Margaret Kemeny, PhD.