Impressive. Effects of Transcendental Meditation in US schools

http://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/2015/nov/24/san-franciscos-toughest-schools-transformed-meditation

One of San Francisco’s toughest schools transformed by the power of meditation
A pioneering programme has reduced stress and improved grades at Visitacion Valley middle school – with lessons for the UK
THEGUARDIAN.COM|BY ANNA LEACH


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After 1st TM experience in Edinburgh last weekend

“Calm, relaxed, excited, anticipating, cosy inside.” Allison ~ Dunfermline

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A few comments on the difference between Mindfulness Meditation and Transcendental Meditation

* “The biggest difference for me was mindfulness (for someone in chronic pain) brought my attention inside my body whereas transcendental meditation freed me from it. For me, mindfulness was a stepping stone to transcendental meditation.”  ~  Kayleigh

“Mindfulness requires much effort on  the part of the participant, TM requires little effort and I felt immediate benefits: relaxation, joy and deep healing. TM works! ~  Rifa

“I tried and enjoyed mindfulness as a guinea-pig in a research group – but it never felt like “the answer” to my over-active brain. I am intrinsically rather lazy and it always required effort yet left me slightly disappointed. And had no lasting effect afterwards

After learning TM I actually laughed out loud, after my first practise at home, with the joy of the fact that at last here was something that fully worked for me – and yet was the simplest and easiest of processes. I wanted to tell the whole world!

I describe it to friends as the best way of releasing the build-up of thoughts and tensions and worries, restoring calm and peace in the mind. So instead of ongoing build-up day after day you are constantly returning to a calm starting point and so things never get too much for you. And each time it leaves you feeling refreshed and ready to go. Almost as if you have had a restorative nap of deep sleep.

For me the main difference was in having a mantra and therefore not constantly and consciously struggling to clear the mind and disregard distractions – and consistently “failing”. And in the lack of “rules” about breathing technique or sitting position! You are given freedom in every way rather than having to follow a prescribed pattern

Sometimes you virtually stop breathing for a bit as you relax so much that you almost fall asleep and then the body automatically wakes you by sighing deeply. And that is how it is “meant” to be, rather than a failure.

With TM you are given the absolute freedom to sit where and how you please (just be comfortable) to allow thoughts in and to not worry in the slightest but simply re-start the process when you become aware it has drifted away!

It is 20 minutes of priceless positivity!” ~  Tilly

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The kind of enquiry we regularly get from all over the world

Dear Sir, Madam,

I took up TM in Antwerp last Saturday. I can’t believe the effects I’ve already experienced during this less than a week of meditation. I’m so enthusiastic that I’ve told my family and two of my friends whom I think could also be interested. Much as they are attracted by the idea of TM, and its potential benefits, they all balk at the expense, which in the Antwerp branch of the Mahadishi Foundation, where I followed my course, is €900. I coincidentally discovered your website when looking up more information on TM, so I can share it with my family and friends. My question is do you know of any fellow TM associations that offer decent TM courses at a more affordable price than the Mahadishi Foundation?
Thank you in advance for your reply.

Sincerely

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Transcendental Meditation – could this be the answer?

Silversurfers on-line mag

So here I am, just turned 60 and like so many of our friends and contemporaries, we are starting to have to work on keeping fit and healthy.

I am not overweight (13 stone and 6 feet tall), male, when I last looked, and a regular exerciser with mountain biking, gym use and golf as my keep fit things to do.

However I have been dogged by high blood pressure for a few years at about 150 over 90 as an average level. With a history of heart disease in the family and a brother and sister with the same complaint, it was time to do something. So after the third set of blood pressure pills I started to look for something new. The pills made me feel very odd so the normal search on the web ensued.

How about Transcendental Meditation (TM), lots of articles about the benefits to wellbeing and blood pressure and reductions in hypertension?

So I was sceptical. Was it all “whale music and joss sticks”, mumbo jumbo and kaftans. I registered with a qualified teacher here in Guildford. Private consultation with a man in a suit and tie, a reasonable fee to be paid after the first free consultation. No kaftans in sight.

What is involved? Just a simple, stress free technique to calm your mind and reduce tension. It needs some work to get right but practice makes perfect. It is meant to be easy and stress free and it is. 20 minutes a day night and morning.

The results:

A reduction in blood pressure.
A more focussed approach to work tasks with a clearer head all day. You will make up the time spent in your day by clearer more efficient thinking.
Most beneficial though is am much improved sleep pattern. 7 or 8 hours a night, no problem, with no long periods awake at 4 a.m., any more.
I read about the explosion in insomnia in the UK, up fivefold from the early 90’s. Maybe partially due to the explosion in caffeine consumption (by chance up fivefold from the early 1990’s), but certainly due to the hectic and pressured working lives we are now expected to lead. So try this simple technique, do try to learn it form someone properly qualified. It will help with insomnia and hypertension if you take it seriously and put some time in. It really can sort your problems out with no horrid drugs to cope with.

Written by Clive
About the author

Clive

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A father of two grown up boys and happily married, and enjoying life to the full! Just turned 60 and feeling great … l really enjoy golf, mountain biking and going to the gym. Get the odd bout of gout and swear by cherry juice as a natural cure, and now I have just discovered Transcendental Meditation.

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