At the end of a meditation session which finding indicates relaxation success?

• A. Decreased blood pressure
• B. Decreased peripheral skin temperature
• C. Increased respiratory rate
• D. Increased bowel motility

Answer: (A)

When the body experiences the relaxation response, the parasympathetic nervous system takes the lead, causing the heart to slow and the vessels to dilate. This shift typically lowers blood pressure, so a decreased blood pressure reading is a clear, direct sign that the body is relaxing after a meditation session.

Other signs can vary, and they’re less reliable as measures of relaxation. Peripheral skin temperature often rises with vasodilation during relaxation, not decreases. Respiratory rate tends to slow rather than increase. Bowel motility isn’t a dependable indicator of relaxation success and can be influenced by many factors beyond a single session.

So, a lower blood pressure most accurately reflects the relaxation response after meditation.