Transcendental Meditation

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“In my experience, once a person practices TM and knows how to be at this deep level of peace, their mind is naturally able to go to deeper states in other meditations as well. It significantly changes the quality of all meditations. I teach other meditations. Some meditations I enjoy even more than TM. Each has a different purpose. However, people seem to be able to do any of them more easily, once they know TM.”

“I was personally trained to teach TM by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1972. Two of the Beach Boys, Michael Love and Allen Jardine and their families, lived in the hotel room next door to my family in Majorca, Spain for 3 months while we all become TM teachers together. Since then, I have initiated over 2,000 people into the practice of TM.”

“Like Deepak Chopra, I no longer choose to be a part of the TM movement, but I am grateful for the experience. I have found that TM is one of the greatest gifts I have to share with my clients. I highly recommend it and initiate clients to the practice whenever possible. I have summarized some of the benefits publicized by the TM movement. See their website for details.” (www.tm.org)

Kalie

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Physiological Benefits

Deep Healing Rest

Transcendental Meditation technique produces a physiological state of restful alertness. During the technique the physiology becomes deeply rested, as indicated by significant reductions in respiration, minute ventilation, tidal volume, and blood lactate, and significant increases in basal skin resistance (an index of relaxation).

Transcendental Consciousness, a Unique State of Restful Alertness

While the body is deeply rested, the mind is alert instead of asleep, as indicated by an increased abundance of alpha waves in the EEG. These findings led researcher Dr. Keith Wallace to conclude that restful alertness is a fourth major state of consciousness, termed Transcendental Consciousness that is physiologically distinct from ordinary waking, dreaming, and deep sleep.

A More Relaxed, Flexible Physiology Outside of Meditation

The regular experience of alternating 15 to 20 minutes of the Transcendental Meditation technique twice a day with regular daily activity trains the mind to become more relaxed outside of meditation, as well as more flexible and dynamic. Baseline levels of respiration rate, heart rate, plasma lactate, and skin resistance are all lower. The autonomic nervous system, which regulates vital internal processes, becomes more stable, integrated, and adaptable, as indicated by its increased ability to recover rapidly from the effects of stress.

Increased Orderliness of Brain Functioning

Brain functioning becomes more orderly, as indicated by the growth of physiological correlates of creativity and intelligence, such as shorter latencies of cognitive evoked potentials, faster paired H-reflexes, increased EEG coherence, shorter inspection time, and faster choice reaction time.

Decreased Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Improved General Health

Medical researchers have found a reduction of important cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure and serum cholesterol. Large health insurance studies have found that people practicing the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programs, in all age groups combined, display a 50 percent reduction in both inpatient and outpatient medical care utilization compared to controls. Hospitalization is 87 percent lower for heart disease and 55 percent lower for cancer. And what is most remarkable, meditators over 40 years old have approximately 70 percent fewer medical problems than others in their age group.

Decreased Biological Age and Increased Life Expectancy

Other research has found that meditating individuals in their mid-50s have a biological age twelve years younger than their chronological age, and that people beginning the practice even at 80 years of age live longer and are healthier and happier than controls of the same age.

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Psychological Benefits

Self-Realization

Transcendental Consciousness is the experience of one's higher Self, and through regular practice of the Transcendental Meditation program, the Self becomes a stable internal frame of reference, providing an unshakable anchor to life even during dynamic activity. Research shows that this is the best means of reducing anxiety, depression, and anger. Meditators become better able to see another person's perspective, yet they cannot easily be swayed by social pressure to do something that they judge to be wrong. They tend to perceive the world more positively and holistically.

Increased Comprehension, Focus, Creativity and Intelligence

Creativity increases, as measured by tests of both verbal and pictorial fluency, flexibility, and originality. Perception becomes more accurate and less driven by preconceptions and misconceptions. Basic memory processes improve. School children significantly improve in their basic skills in mathematics, reading, language, and study skills within a semester. Adults have found significant increased IQ scores.

Improved Moral Reasoning and Emotional Maturity

People who regularly practice the Transcendental Meditation technique reach higher levels of moral reasoning, autonomy, and integration. They are more self-sufficient, more spontaneous, more productive, better able of meet challenges, and more capable of warm interpersonal relationships.

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Sociological Benefits

Decreased Use of Drugs and Alcohol

A quantitative review of 198 studies found that the Transcendental Meditation program is the most effective means of preventing and treating drug and alcohol abuse. A study of high school and college drug users in a rehabilitation center found an 89 percent reduction in drug usage, and even transient, chronic ("skid row") alcoholics were found achieve a 65 percent abstinence rate.

Decreased Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome

A study of war veterans with post-traumatic adjustment problems found that the Transcendental Meditation technique produced significant decreases in emotional numbness, alcohol consumption, family problems, insomnia, unemployment, and overall post-traumatic stress disorder.

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Benefits for Businesses

Decreased physical complaints, decreased anxiety, decreased depression, decreased smoking, decreased insomnia, decreased digestive problems, and a decreased tendency towards neurosis and psychosomatic problems.