It was November 1970 when Richard Miller quietly stepped outside of the first yoga class he’d ever attended and looked up into the clear California night sky. Something was different. What was it?

He was relaxed, at peace, and he felt connected to everything throughout the entire universe. He had just experienced a taste of something that would become his life-long passion to understand and realize. It was the experience of unity consciousness that can come through meditation.

Today, Dr. Richard Miller is a clinical psychologist who has developed a revolutionary approach to meditation called iRest.

Based primarily on the ancient yogic practice know as yoga nidra, iRest is a fusion of eastern and western contemplative practices and influences. And thanks to the work of Dr. Miller, it is used today in VA and military hospitals and settings across the US to help veterans heal through their symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

In Dr. Miller’s own words:

iRest is a research-based transformative practice of deep relaxation and meditative inquiry that: releases negative emotions and thought patterns, calms the nervous system, and develops a deep capacity to meet any and all circumstances you may encounter in life.

iRest is currently being utilized in VA hospitals, military bases, hospitals and clinics, hospice, homeless shelters, community programs, and schools.

In the first part of this interview, Dr. Richard Miller shares his personal story about meditation. In the second part, we explore his 10-step iRest protocol that helps veterans, and anyone suffering from mild to acute trauma, heal from their psychological wounds and thrive.

Dr. Miller has consulted on over 20 scientific studies to assess the veracity of his approach with positive results. Treating PTSD through iRest is so successful that the military has embraced and implemented it in over 35 settings across the US as a CAM treatment for both PTSD and chronic pain.

I invited Dr. Miller to The OneMind Podcast because of his passion for helping people heal and thrive through meditation. You'll also pick up some powerful tools and tips for taking your own meditation practice to the next level.

Learn meditation in 5 easy lessons with our How To Meditate mini course. Sign up here.

(Photo via Flickr Creative Commons: MilitaryHealth)

The post OM 011: Healing Wounded Warriors Through iRest Meditation with Dr. Richard Miller appeared first on About Meditation.