Transcendental meditation: does it work?

First he tried sleep apps, then a flotation tank, then mindfulness – but nothing would stop the chatter in Stuart Heritage’s increasingly exhausted mind. Would transcendental meditation, currently enjoying a revival, do the trick?

As he suggests, take away all the “new age” baloney and you have something really special – a profoundly simple relaxation technique, relevant to many of the problems of modern living.

Read full article in The Guardian.

Sam Allardyce has revealed how ‘transcendental meditation’ techniques cured him of his touchline rage and turned him into a functioning manager at the highest level.

The Everton boss is preparing for his 1,000th game as a manager in English football on Saturday afternoon as the Toffees host West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League.

After beginning his coaching career as player-manager at Irish side Limerick in 1991, Allardyce has managed Blackpool, Notts County, Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham, Sunderland, England and Crystal Palace.

Despite admitting that he is ‘addicted’ to management, 63-year-old Allardyce insisted the Goodison Park job will be the last stop-off in his career.

But he wouldn’t have lasted this long if not for the stress-busting technique conjured up by his sports science team at Bolton during his eight highly successful years there.

‘We talked about my hot-headedness and angry outbursts and we came up with meditation to help me stay calm and not get so worked up,’ Allardyce told The Times.

‘I became calmer, able to make better decisions, tactical changes.’

Asked precisely what ‘transcendental meditation’ involves, Allardyce replied: ‘You just make the time, switch your mind off for a period and relax and focus on your mantra.

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