Soon after learning TM

“Really impressed, starting to feel calmer and more focused already” ~ Paul, Manchester.

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Jerry Seinfeld on TM

“It’s very hard to explain. … I was describing it to somebody. I was saying it’s like having, you know how your phone has a charger – it’s like having a charger for your whole body and mind. That’s what TM is.” ~ Jerry Seinfeld

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“20 minutes morning and evening does the job”

“I started meditating whilst in my final year at university, mainly because I hoped it would help me deal with exam stress. It was very cheap (we are talking more than 30 years ago) on a student rate, and I enjoyed the whole slightly esoteric process very much. Even more, I enjoyed and continue to enjoy the benefits of a very simple and easy technique that basically gets you through your day. It worked for exam stress: it has gone on working in all kinds of circumstances, and in the times when I have stopped meditating, I have noticed a difference. You can become more involved, through extra meetings and weekend retreats, but for me, it’s the 20 mins morning and evening which does the job. Sometimes I find it difficult to fit in, but that’s really bad planning and a failure to prioritise on my part. When I make time for TM, I feel a whole lot better.”
Jo (Digital Learning Designer)
Darlington, County Durham.

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TM for Teachers

“More than 15 years ago I was teaching in a High School in a ‘challenging’ environment (that’s the polite way to describe it). Although teaching had always been my desired employment, I was increasingly finding that the aggressive behaviour of the students was causing me more and more stress. I developed all the stress related symptoms (IBS, headaches, stiff neck, high blood pressure, and insomnia to name some. My husband tells me I was difficult to live with, although he knew it was not me, but the effects of the job on my health. I felt like I was swimming through treacle and the harder I tried the thicker the treacle became. I could not see a way out and despair began to close in on me.

A good friend of mine who worked for the NHS suggested I go to meditation classes and so in desperation I went – not knowing quite what to expect. I remember my husband joking that “if I started wearing a yellow sheet and shaving my head he was leaving”!!

I arrived with a very sceptical mind but very soon all my worst suspicions were gone. It seemed that Chris knew more about the way I was feeling than I did myself. At last someone who actually understood – but was also offering me a way to deal with my stress. He couldn’t make my everyday troubles go away, but he could teach me how I could deal with them so that my health would not suffer.

I could write pages about how easy I found it and how within a very short time I knew it was helping. I wanted to tell the whole world that everyone should be trying this. I continue to use TM although I am now retired, and over the years I have told as many people as I can about how wonderful the effects are. I can honestly say that TM ‘saved’ me from what would probably have ended up in a complete meltdown of my nervous system.”

Heather, Newcastle upon Tyne.

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Wonderful to rubbish meditations!

“I am still meditating and most days I manage at least one session. I find I need to set aside half an hour – 5 minutes settling down time – 20mins meditation and then 5mins considering the previous 20mins and preparing to get on with the rest of the day.
My meditations range from wonderful, fulfilling experiences to ‘rubbish’. That said, as the day goes on after a ‘rubbish’ one I often find that it couldn’t have been as rubbish as I thought. Perhaps my day will go better than expected or I’ll get much more done than I thought possible. Maybe as the day progresses I find the ‘molehills’ are no longer ‘mountains’. Husband (Pete) very supportive and encouraging so I’m lucky in that respect and I think if you were to ask him he would definitely site the ‘mountains back into molehills’ as one of the main reasons he finds himself saying “Have you done your meditation yet?”
Hazel, Malton, North Yorks.

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TM for high flyers

“I’m still doing TM every day, twice, as recommended. While I can normally practise in the comfort of home, I have done my meditation on buses, trains and even in a central London bookshop!
It’s making a very noticeable difference in my life. I won’t describe myself as “Superwoman” (maybe “a work in progress”!), but I am much calmer and more ‘together’. I was very surprised 2 days ago, on the flight out of Blackpool, when I didn’t get the usual “nerves” flying that I normally do (I hate heights and closed in spaces after getting stuck in a lift by myself in Japan during an earth tremor)! In fact, I was able to look out of the window during and after take off and it’s one of the most comfortable plane journeys I’ve had for over 40 years.”
Sarah, Manchester

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If at first you don’t succeed!

Happy 2013 everyone, here’s a good twist on a TM testimonial, the moral being if at first you don’t succeed, don’t “try” so hard the second time around :
“I attended the Manchester course and was the one who didn’t get it. Having given up for the last few months I thought I’d give it another go, and it’s started working for me!
I think before I just had too many expectations so I put far too much pressure on myself to get it to work. Which of course meant it didn’t!
So, just thought I’d let you know so you didn’t continue to think it had failed for me. Who knows, I might even book to come on one of the retreats in the future. But in the meantime I’ll carry on with my practise and just enjoy the benefits as they come.”
Alistair, Wigan

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This weeks TM testimonial from Edinburgh

“There are so many benefits I am feeling since I took up TM it is difficult to give just a few. Here are some of them…

Before learning TM I would often have a churning anxious stomach worrying about things and what people thought of me. Now I don’t feel like that. It is like my brain registers my worries but it doesn’t go any further and I rarely feel anxious any more. I just don’t really react to stressful situations by getting stressed any more. My mind and body are calm and relaxed and for the first time in my life I am not worried about what people think of me, I actually feel free. Because of this I am not afraid to speak my mind as I feel calm and clear headed, this has helped me at work and in all other areas of my life helping me gain new confidence. I feel my relationships have improved because I am not irrational and irritated because I am stressed. I realise now that so many of my arguments in the past were down to stress and can see what a harmful affect it was having on my life.

Before I started TM I was so tired after work l would be ready for bed by 9pm. Now I meditate when I get home and it releases energy I didn’t believe I had and I can actually have a full evening not feeling debilitated with exhaustion.

Another benefit is that after having lost 3.5 stone I have managed to maintain this weight loss for 8 months now which I have never been able to do before. Speaking to my doctor about how I have managed to do this I mentioned I now meditate twice a day. He became very interested in this and said that there is research going on at the moment into the stress hormone Cortisol and that as well as being released in your body when you are stressed this hormone also makes your body hold onto fat…a survival mechanism. He said that getting rid of cortisol twice a day from my body through meditation is most likely why I am able to maintain my weight loss.

My meditation time is so precious to me now that I make time whatever I have to do in the day to have my moments of bliss. I feel I can move through stressful situations, clear headed, safe, untouched and calm. Every day I actually feel a real relief that I took up meditation and that I have this amazing tool I can use to help me feel less tired, be able to cope with stress, manage my neck pain and much more.”
Sarah, Edinburgh.

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Comments from last weekends Newcastle TM course :

“Thank you so much for such an enlightening experience over the last few days. I am quite certain this marks a major shift in my life. I’m already enjoying the TM experience and this is only the start !”
John, Sunderland

“Very impressed with TM. Feel like I have something to rely on when feeling anxious and stressed” Damon, Lancaster, Lancashire.

“I’ve been sticking to the 20 mins twice a day and it’s been very beneficial to me, especially at work where I just feel a lot calmer and also which I’m loving, is I’ve slept like a baby for the first time in as long as I can remember!”
Justin, Gateshead. Tyne & Wear

“Yes I am another sceptic converted.  Have been feeling the benefits.” Paul, Newcastle upon Tyne.

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