Vipassana meditation:: A naturalistic, preliminary observation in Muscat.

OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of Vipassana meditation on the physical and psychological health in a multi-ethnic population in the city of Muscat. METHOD The subjects were participants of a Vipassana meditation course taught in a ten-day residential retreat. Self-assessments of health-related parameters and physical and psychological symptomatology were collected from them before and immediately after the course. A control group was tested for a similar time interval. RESULTS Immediately after their 10-day training, the Vipassana participants assessed themselves significantly higher compared to their levels prior to the course, suggesting that the 10 days' practice had significantly improved their physical and psychological well-being. The control group did not exhibit such changes. CONCLUSION The present preliminary findings, juxtaposed with the results of studies from other parts of the world, suggest that the practice of Vipassana meditation may help mitigate psychological and psychosomatic distress.