[kranner]

They weren't expecting to see changes in the control group. Control groups represent the baseline, untreated state.

Also, meditation and relaxation are not the same thing.

[iQuercus]

A valuable result would be: what benefits does meditation impart over other similar activities? For example something like 30 minutes of walking every day.

A result over a non-treatment group in this case is scientifically noble, but practically useless. All it tells us is that doing something has an effect over doing nothing.

Can I get the same effects from 15 minutes of walking a day? 30 minutes? We don't know, because that wasn't compared. It should have been.

[chrissyb]

You're right, meditation is relaxation with a sprinkle of woo.

[vidarh]

You think meditation is relaxation, you do not realise how much effort it takes. I'd suggest finding a tutorial and trying even 5 minutes.

As for the "sprinkle of woo", some meditation practices comes with buckets of foo, while some are entirely woo free.

[dthunt]

I've done this for an hour or so on occasion. I don't find it a particular strain. I may be doing something different than what you are doing, though.

[vidarh]

The point is not that it's a particular strain. The point is that most people can't just sit back and let their mind go - to maintain focus requires concentration, and concentration is not "free" - it takes energy. It may feel energising - especially after you're done -, the same way exercise does, but people who think that meditation is "just relaxation" usually have no idea what is involved.

[mattrepl]

Meditation is more concentration than relaxation.

[ArtDev]

Meditation is really difficult! Like a marathon, it gets less difficult with practice.