Showing posts with label relaxation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label relaxation. Show all posts

Will other forms of meditation produce the same results?


While there are many venerable forms of meditation, scientific research shows that the various practices produce their own effects and that they do not all yield the same results as one another—nor are they seen to produce the same benefits associated with the Transcendental Meditation technique. Because of the many independent scientific studies showing the TM technique's holistic benefits and unique effectiveness for lowering high blood pressure, it is the only form of meditation recommended by the American Heart Association.

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Different practices, different results: Most meditation practices involve attempts to concentrate or control the mind, to keep it focused on a specific object of meditation (such as a thought, mantra, one's breathing or other sensations). Some approaches might involve contemplation, visualization, watching your thoughts or trying to maintain a passive or non-judgmental attitude—all of which employ varying degrees of effort or sustained attention. Though these various approaches have their benefits, they tend to keep the mind active, engaged or localized, usually within the active realm of thinking.

The Transcendental Meditation technique is unique. It is effortless and involves no attempt to control the mind. The technique allows the mind to systematically transcend all mental activity to experience the deeply settled state of restful alertness or pure awareness. During this process, the brain functions with greater coherence and the body gains profound rest. The holistic benefits associated with TM practice result spontaneously from this experience of effortless transcending. Practices that keep the mind active or engaged on more surface levels have not been found to consistently produce the deep levels of rest or holistic range of benefits known to result from TM practice.

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Dr. Vernon Barnes, Medical College of Georgia: "Comparative research has shown that the various forms of meditation do not produce the same effects. Because each kind of meditation practice engages the mind in it’s own way, there’s no reason to expect the same results from the various methods or that scientific research on the Transcendental Meditation program will apply to other practices.
 
"There have been many studies looking at the effects of the TM technique, Zen, Mindfulness, Tibetan Buddhist and Vipassana meditations, Progressive Muscle Relaxation, Benson’s Relaxation Response—examining such factors as brainwave patterns, levels of rest, and benefits for mind and body. While some other forms of meditation have been found to produce good effects in specific areas, these various practices have their own aims and are not necessarily intended to produce the broad range of benefits seen to consistently result from Transcendental Meditation.
 
"Neural imaging and EEG studies indicate that TM creates a unique brain pattern: it is the only meditation technique known to create widespread brainwave coherence. The TM technique also produces deeper rest than other practices, and studies show the technique to be more effective at reducing anxiety and depression and increasing self-actualization."
 
VERNON BARNES, Ph.D., is a researcher at the Georgia Prevention Institute of the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, which has received $1.5 million from the American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to study the effects of the Transcendental Meditation technique on African American teens at risk for high blood pressure. 


James Krag, MD, Clinical Psychiatrist, Veterans Administration: “Just as there are many kinds of medication, there are also many approaches that are termed ‘meditation.’ The vast majority of the more compelling research on meditation has been on the Transcendental Meditation technique—and the findings clearly indicate that the TM technique works better than other researched mental techniques to promote health. If research shows that a specific medication helps treat a disorder, it would be irresponsible and illogical to conclude that all medications help treat that disorder. In the same way, research on Transcendental Meditation should not be generalized to include other techniques also called ‘meditation.’ We should intelligently choose what works and what is supported by research.”
 
James Krag, M.D., is a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, recent president of the Psychiatric Society of Virginia, and former president of the Virginia Association of Community Psychiatrists. He is currently clinic psychiatrist with the Veterans Administration.

• The three categories of meditation practices 

• How the TM technique differs from concentration, mindfulness, other mantra practices and everything else 

Short essay: What kind of meditation technique did the Buddha teach?

VIDEO: Quantum Physicist John Hagelin on the variety of meditation techniques and how they differ: "Experiencing the Unified Field"

Myth #1: Meditation and relaxation practices are all the same and produce the same effects

The scientific literature on meditation shows that not all meditation practices produce the same effects. Different types of meditation practices engage the mind in different ways and employ a variety of methods for different results. 

For example, numerous independent scientific studies have found consistent distinctions between the Transcendental Meditation technique and other practices on measures of deep relaxation, anxiety reduction, growth of intelligence, normalization of high blood pressure, reduction of drug and alcohol abuse and self-actualization.* A recent study published by the American Heart Association found that TM practice reduces the chance of heart attack and stroke among those at-risk by 48% — an effect not found in research on other meditation practices. The TM technique is the only form of meditation recommended by the American Heart Association.

*Cognitive Processing, 11, 1, 2010; American Journal of Health Promotion, 12, 297-299; American Psychologist [42] 879-81, 1987; Intelligence 29: 419-440, 2001; Journal of Social Behavior and Personality (6) 189–247, 1991; International Journal of Neuroscience 100, 77-89, 2000; Journal of Clinical Psychology [45] 957-974, 1989; American Journal of Hypertension 21(3): 310-316, 2008

Three areas of research showing distinctions between meditation techniques:

1. Meditation and brain function: 

In recent decades, neuroscientists have researched the brain patterns of various meditative practices — studying Tibetan monks, Indian yogis, trained Western meditators and many other groups as subjects. Out of this research has emerged the understanding that different meditation techniques have very different effects on the brain.

For example, EEG research on mindfulness meditation (Cahn et al, Cognitive Processing, 2010) reports an increase in frontal theta brain waves (4-8 Hz) during mindfulness practice, as well as possible gamma waves (35-45 Hz) in the back of the brain, but no continuous or “state” effects were found for theta, alpha, or beta. Studies have found that during concentration meditation the brain shows increased frontal gamma, a frequency commonly associated with controlled focus (Lutz A, et al, 2004).
   
Research on the Transcendental Meditation technique reports patterns of highly coherent and synchronous alpha waves ("high amplitude" alpha, 10-12 Hz) throughout the entire brain, especially in the prefrontal cortex (the brain’s “CEO”). Heightened alpha activity is associated with relaxed wakefulness, and high amplitude alpha is associated with heightened awareness. 

This continuous state of increased widespread EEG coherence seen during TM practice also carries over into daily activity outside of meditation, indicating more efficient overall brain functioning. Coherence is associated with increased learning ability, higher IQ, better moral reasoning and improved neurological efficiency — all of which result from TM practice according to numerous studies. This heightened state of EEG coherence is not reported from ordinary relaxation or other meditation practices (Travis et al, 2010).

2. Deep Relaxation: Although the Transcendental Meditation technique is a mental process, it produces extensive physiological effects. The TM technique allows the mind to settle very deeply inward, beyond thinking, in an effortless, natural way. This is called transcending — going beyond all mental activity to experience the state of restful alertness or pure consciousness at the basis of the mind.

Due to the natural relationship between mind and body, when the mind becomes deeply settled during TM practice, the body also experiences deep relaxation. The TM technique is the only mind-body practice shown by scientific research to provide a state of rest more than twice as deep as ordinary, eyes-closed relaxation (American Psychologist [42] 879-81, 1987). Meditation practices that keep the mind engaged in thinking or mental activity (such as mindfulness or the "relaxation response" technique) have not been found to produce this degree of deep rest.

3. Reducing Anxiety: A meta-analysis (critical review of all available research data) conducted at Stanford University found the Transcendental Meditation technique significantly more effective in reducing trait anxiety than concentration and contemplation procedures or other techniques (Journal of Clinical Psychology [45] 957-974, 1989). The research project analyzed 146 independent study results, and found that the increased effectiveness of TM practice could not be attributed to subject expectation, experimenter bias or quality of research design. In fact, the studies with the most rigorous design showed the most significant results for the Transcendental Meditation technique.
 


Back to Myths

But it's so hard to clear my mind of thoughts!

You don't have to clear your mind of thoughts to successfully practice the Transcendental Meditation technique. There's no mind control involved, no concentrating against thoughts or anything else. The TM technique is a different kind of practice all together. It's simple, effortless, and totally natural.

It's not just sitting and watching your thoughts, either. Nor is it a process of contemplation or trying to gain insight. You simply practice the technique as instructed and it pretty much just goes along by itself, allowing the mind to automatically settle inward to quieter and quieter levels, until you transcend (or go beyond) even the faintest impulses of the thinking process and arrive at the deepest, innermost field of your own awareness — a peaceful, expansive state of restful alertness or pure consciousness. This natural state of profound rest dissolves deep-rooted stresses and rejuvenates mind and body.

But it's during your daily activity that you really enjoy the benefits of TM practice. You become more aware in life and less affected by stress — everyday growing in comprehension, clarity and inner happiness — unfolding deeper values of your potential as a human being. 


Myth #9: Meditation can have negative side effects and make you go crazy!

The deep, coherent rest gained during TM practice has been found by medical and health researchers, in hundreds of peer-reviewed clinical studies, to have only positive benefits.

More than 20,000 TM-practicing subjects have been studied by scientists over the past 40 years, and no credible published studies on the TM technique have ever found the practice to be unpleasant or harmful in any way — all such studies show positive results.

That's why leading physicians and medical professionals continue to speak out in favor of TM — such as renowned author, senior NIH scientist and psychiatrist Norman Rosenthal; NIH researcher and Discovery Channel Doctor Pamela Peeke, M.D., along with medical and health researchers at NYU, Harvard, University of Kentucky, Stanford, Medical College of Georgia and many other institutions. 

Because of the extensive supportive research and positive health outcomes, the TM technique is the only meditation practice recommended by the American Heart Association.
 
No Negative Side-effects: Professionally controlled clinical research on the effects of TM practice has been conducted under a wide variety of settings and conditions: on general populations, people in the workplace, athletes, groups of students at all grade levels, patients at high-risk for heart disease, students with learning disorders, factory workers, members of the military, groups of corporate executives, new meditators, long-term meditators on advanced courses, and people with pre-existing mental health problems. All these studies show significant improvements in mental and physical health, with no negative side effects. About 50 of these studies were randomized controlled trials (it takes only 2 positive RTCs in a phase III trial for the FDA to approve a drug as safe).

Since the 1970s, anti-meditation activists have been soliciting worldwide for testimonials from people who believe they had bad or harmful experiences as a result of practicing the TM technique. After all this time, how many testimonials (real people with names and identities) have they now collected to post online — people asserting that their meditation practice was the reason for some mental or physical distress that they experienced in their life? A dozen or so, at best, and there's no clinical documentation to substantiate even these few claims. How many people have learned TM over the last 50 years? About 6 million. This small handful of critics has helped demonstrate (along with the hundreds of scientific research studies) the TM technique's all-positive effects.

Some things are just good for you: For thousands of years, the experience of transcendental consciousness has been cherished in cultures around the world as a means to relieve suffering and awaken the field of order, creativity and intelligence that resides within all of us. Deep rest is good for you. Gaining inner peace is good for you. Reducing stress is healthy — in fact, it's lifesaving. More coherent brain waves are very, very healthy. It's that simple.

• GOVERNMENT FUNDING: The National Institutes of Health has provided $26 million over the past 20 years to document TM's benefits for heart health and brain functioning. The Veteran's Administration in Washington, D.C., has granted more than $2 million to research the effects on TM practice on veterans suffering from post traumatic stress. Why? Because of a 40-year precedence of solid, promising research studies on TM showing benefits—with no trend of negative side effects recorded.

• MEDICAL DOCTORS: The American Medical Association, representing 140,000 medical doctors, has published and promoted research showing that the TM technique improves high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. The AMA has also offered professional credit (CME) for doctors to take classes in TM.

• PSYCHOLOGISTS: The American Psychological Association, at its annual conferences, regularly features research on the benefits of the TM technique for improving overall mental health.

• SCIENTIFIC REVIEW: THE INTERNAL REVIEW BOARD at American University in Washington, D.C., comprised of a team of independent university physicians and scientists, conducted an exhaustive review of all existing scientific research on the TM technique and thoroughly considered the information found on various alternative Internet sites — pro and con. The board unanimously agreed that the technique was safe, had no negative side effects, and should be learned by 300 college students from American University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, and University of District of Columbia as part of a carefully controlled, two-year study examining the effects of the technique on student life. The study was completed and the results published in peer-reviewed scientific journals — showing that the technique reduces stress, improves health and strengthens brain functioning.

National Institutes of Health Senior Researcher Norman Rosenthal, M.D.: The state of the Scientific Research on the Transcendental Meditation program:

 

What about studies that critics claim show harmful effects from meditation?





Myth #10: The Transcendental Meditation organization is a moneymaking $3.5 billion empire.

Myth #11: When learning Transcendental Meditation you undergo a religious ceremony.

Myth #12: Transcendental Meditation is a form of Hinduism

Back to Myths


Myth #6: Scientific reviews show that Transcendental Meditation produces no health benefits

Scientists sometimes do broad surveys of existing research in a particular area to assess the quality of the studies and the general findings — to determine what conclusions may be drawn from that larger body of research. About a dozen such "meta-analyses" or reviews have been done involving the Transcendental Meditation technique, comparing it to other practices.

One such independent review, done at Stanford University, looked at the TM technique's effects on reducing anxiety, and found that TM practice had a significant, positive impact on anxiety and was more than twice as effective as any other mind-body practice studied (Journal of Clinical Psychology [45] 957-974, 1989).

A 2013 review (meta-analysis) conducted by scientists associated with the American Heart Association and published in the journal Hypertension, investigated the effects of various forms of meditation on high blood pressure. The study concluded that the Transcendental Meditation technique should be recommended by doctors as an alternative treatment for hypertension, and that the TM technique is the only form of meditation that the American Heart Association can recommend for reducing hypertension.

Other reviews have shown such effects as a distinct state of physiological relaxation (American Psychologist [42] 879-81, 1987), reduced use of cigarette smoking (Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 11,13-88, 1994), reduction of high blood pressure (Current Hypertension Reports 2007;9(6):520-528), reduced drug use (American Journal of Health Promotion, 12 [5]:297-298, 1998), reduced alcohol use (Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 11, 13-88, 1994) and increased self-actualization (Journal of Social Behavior and Personality 6 (1991): 189–247; Journal of Counseling Psychology 19 (1972): 184–187).

AHRQ Report: Two scientific reviews (most notably the "AHRQ" paper, now archived on the AHRQ website as an "obsolete" study) failed to find strong evidence to verify whether or not TM or meditation of any kind produces significant health benefits. These are the reviews often cited by skeptics and opponents of meditation to argue that meditation has no clinically proven benefits. The current Transcendental Meditation Wikipedia page, displaying obvious negative bias on the part of its volunteer editors, cites these reviews as definitive studies—grossly misrepresenting the proven health benefits of TM practice.

One might say that meditation opponents are cherry picking the data and favoring only studies that support their beliefs, while ignoring literally hundreds of other peer-reviewed studies that validate the benefits of the TM program, including other meta-analyses and randomized controlled trials. 

A close look at the reviews in question and the methodology they used reveals that there is little basis to the charge that "TM produces no significant health benefits." These two reviews are considered to be poorly designed and replete with errors, and are often dismissed because they did not thoroughly consider the large body of relevant data. Meditation researchers in general consider the reviews inconclusive, at best.

A 2014 meta-analysis published in JAMA also considered the general health effects of meditation, but included only a small handful of studies on the TM technique and did not analyze the data of several larger, more significant studies. That study is reviewed here in JAMA itself: http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1885495
 
Fortunately, the fact remains: over 600 scientific papers, research studies and reviews have validated the benefits of the TM program for mind, body, behavior and environment—hundreds of these studies appearing in leading peer-reviewed research journals, with nearly $30 million in research grants from the National Institutes of Health.

More on the AHRQ report and health research on meditation



Back to Myths

Myth #3: Simple relaxation will give the same benefits as TM

Decades of peer-reviewed scientific research has shown that the physiological state commonly experienced during the Transcendental Meditation technique is a much deeper, more coherent state of relaxation than the rest gained during ordinary eyes-closed rest (or the so-called “relaxation response”) — with the TM technique producing significantly greater decreases in oxygen consumption, respiratory rate, heart rate, muscle tension and blood pressure, and a greater increase in skin resistance — indicating a more relaxed state (American Psychologist [42] 879-81, 1987).

Research has also shown that simple relaxation, even when practiced twice daily for 20 minutes, does not produce the same benefits as TM practice. For example, the TM technique has been found to reduce anxiety more than twice as much as ordinary relaxation (Journal of Clinical Psychology [45] 957-974, 1989). Randomized clinical trials on relaxation and meditation techniques found that the TM technique was the only mind-body practice to produce significant reductions in blood pressure for hypertensive patients (Current Hypertension Reports 9 (6): 520-528, 2007). 

A 2013 report from the American Heart Association confirms that the Transcendental Meditation technique lowers blood pressure more effectively than other techniques of relaxation and meditation, and recommends the TM technique for the prevention and treatment of hypertension. Report from the AHA's journal Hypertension: "All other meditation techniques (including mindfulness) received a 'no benefit level of evidence.’ Thus, other meditation techniques are not recommended.” 

The Transcendental Meditation technique provides the experience of a unique state of physiological functioning, distinct from ordinary relaxation in many ways. Not only do many beneficial physiological changes occur during TM practice that are not present during ordinary rest or the relaxation response, but some of the physiological changes associated with the TM technique are in the opposite direction of ordinary relaxation — such as increased cardiac output (despite decreased heart rate), increased blood flow to the brain, and increased EEG coherence throughout the entire brain (American Journal of Health Promotion, 12, 297-299; 1998).

The Transcendental Meditation technique allows awareness to transcend thinking and settle deeply inward, to the most creative, blissful, and peaceful level of the mind — the state of pure consciousness or transcendental consciousness. This inner experience of consciously transcending mental activity, to a state of inner wakefulness, is very different from the subjective experience of ordinary relaxation.

Hundreds of scientific research studies support the principle that it is the transcending process during TM practice and not just mere relaxation that produces TM’s wide range of benefits for mind, body, and behavior — effects not found to result from the relaxation response or ordinary eyes-closed rest.




Back to Myths

BBC World News: Using the Transcendental Meditation technique to alleviate ADHD

A new study suggests that the Transcendental Meditation technique could help improve brain functioning and reduce stress in students.

Fifty students took part in the trial at the American University, in Washington, DC. After ten weeks of meditation the students scored higher on performance tests, reported feeling more alert and said they coped better in difficult situations.

Josh Goulding, featured in this video, participated in the study and claims it has helped to get him off a cocktail of drugs he was taking to control Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Click here to go to BBC video


Visit the Website ADHD, the Mind, and Transcendental Meditation

ADHD: Medicate or Meditate? ...new research: an effective alternative

NBC News: The TM program for High Blood Pressure


This NBC News report from Washington, DC, aired on January 8th, 2009. It describes a study on the TM technique and Blood Pressure currently underway at Howard University Hospital, and includes some inspiring interviews with meditating participants. CLICK TO WATCH

Why pay for TM when I can learn other kinds of meditation for free?

The TM technique is unique — in practice and results. TM makes meditating easy, simple, and profound — and powerfully effective. It's professionally taught, in person, through private instruction and a series of classes with experienced, certified teachers. After you've learned, there's free, ongoing follow-up and support available for the rest of your life, at any TM center in the country. To find your closest certified teacher, visit TM.org.

Non-profit: helping others learn
Part of every TM course fee funds someone to learn who can't afford to pay. Over 500,000 people have learned the TM technique for free over the past 10 years — veterans with PTSD, inner city youth, the homeless, native Americans on reservations, and others at risk for traumatic stress. More about the course fees >>
  
Different practices, different results:
Numerous independent scientific studies and meta-analyses have found that the many different kinds of practices called 'meditation' do not all produce the same effects as one another — or the same holistic benefits associated with the TM technique. 

While almost all meditation practices are beneficial in some way, research comparing the TM technique to concentration practices, mindfulness meditation, contemplation, relaxation techniques, common mantra meditation, Zen, biofeedback and others has found the TM technique more effective at reducing stress and anxiety, lowering high blood pressure, facilitating cognitive growth, decreasing substance abuse, improving psychological health and developing self-actualization. (See comparative studies and reviews: http://www.tm.org/research-meta-analyses)

No other form of meditation has been found in long-term studies to reduce heart attack and stroke (study>). The TM technique is the only meditation practice recommended by the American Heart Association for reduction of hypertension — based on the Heart Association's own research into the effects of TM, mindfulness and various other practices.

Other methods of meditation engage the mind differently and require varying degrees of effort. The TM technique is a natural, effortless process of transcending, allowing the mind to spontaneously settle inward, beyond mental activity, to the deepest, most peaceful and revitalizing state of awareness—the state of inner wakefulness or restful alertness, one's inmost Self.

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Why pay for TM when other meditations are cheaper or free?

Kulreet Chaudhary


Kulreet Chaudhary, MD: It's great that meditation has become mainstream and so many people want to embrace it and even teach it. However, the Transcendental Meditation technique is not the same kind of meditation that you learn down at the Y or at your yoga class (unless your yoga studio has partnered with a certified TM teacher). Those forms of meditation can be helpful, but they're very different from the TM technique.

The TM technique is not just a practice of watching your breath, concentrating or contemplating. It's an effortless, natural technique for transcending, for going beyond thought to tap your deepest inner reserves of creativity, intelligence and well-being, directly enlivening your body's innate healing mechanisms. It's easy to learn but requires a qualified teacher.

Transcendental Meditation is taught by teachers whose training is as rigorous, committed and specialized as the training I underwent to become a licensed physician. These teachers offer a tested and proven gift of preventive health care, an authentic technology for developing consciousness. I'd say their service to society is at least as valuable as that of doctors or other highly trained professionals.

Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary is Medical Director of Wellspring Neurology at Scripps Memorial Hospital in San Diego, California.


David Orme-Johnson, PhD: The generic word 'meditation' refers to a general set of practices—many of them only loosely related, if at all—not to an agreed upon practice with recognized industry standards or procedures. As one would expect, there is a great range of results among the various meditation practices. As a researcher, I have seen some programs showing great promise, and others, well, not so much. The truth is, not all meditation practices are equal—at least according to science.

My work has focused primarily on the Transcendental Meditation technique, and we have seen some very exciting results over the past 40 years.

The American Heart Association, for example, recently issued a scientific review for doctors, recommending the TM technique, specifically stating that other practices have not been found to reduce high blood pressure(1).

Recent studies have shown that not all meditation techniques improve PTSD symptoms or depression(2), whereas the TM technique has been found to be highly effective in this area(3,4)  Research shows that certain types of meditation actually worsen the cardiovascular system's reaction to stress(5), whereas the TM technique is found to improve it(6). 

There is considerable evidence that TM practice reduces medical care utilization and costs(7,9), and a recent 10-year randomized controlled trial showed that the TM technique decreased heart attacks, strokes, and death by 48% compared to controls(10).  No other meditation technique has been found to show these long-term effects.

After more than four decades of research on different types of meditation, there is now sufficient evidence for health professionals to distinguish between the effectiveness of the various meditation practices, and to truly take an evidence-based approach in prescribing meditation to their patients. 

David Orme-Johnson is one of the principal researchers in the world on meditation and its effects, having published over 100 studies, mostly in peer-reviewed journals. He has been asked to review the meditation research on chronic pain and insomnia by a National Institutes of Health Technology Assessment conference, and has traveled to over 56 countries to speak on meditation research to scientific conferences, the press, program directors, government officials, members of Congress, parliaments, heads of state, and the United Nations. 

REFERENCES: 1. Brook RD, Appel LJ, Rubenfire M, et al. Beyond medications and diet: Alternative approaches to lowering blood pressure : A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association 2013(61).
2. Kearney DJ, McDermott K, Malte C, et al. Effects of participation in a mindfulness program for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: A randomized controlled pilot study. J Clin Psychol 2012;69(1):14-27.
3. Brooks JS, Scarano T. Transcendental Meditation and the treatment of post-Vietnam adjustment. J Couns Dev 1985;64:212-215.
4. Rees B, Travis F, Shapiro D, Chant R. Reduction in post traumatic stress symptoms in Congolese refugees practicing Transcendental Meditation. Journal of Traumatic Stress 2013:1-14.
5. Grant C, Hobkirk A, Persons E, et al. Cardiovascular reactivity to and recovery from stressful tasks following a mindfulness analog in college students with a family history of hypertension. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 2012;18:1-6.
6. Barnes VA, Treiber FA, Davis H. Impact of Transcendental Meditation on cardiovascular function at rest and during acute stress in adolescents with high normal blood pressure. J Psychosom Res 2001;51(4):597-605.
7. Orme-Johnson DW. Medical care utilization and the Transcendental Meditation program. Psychosom Med 1987;49:493-507.
8. Orme-Johnson DW, Herron RE. An innovative approach to reducing medical care utilization and expenditures. The American Journal of Managed Care 1997;3(1):135-144.
9. Herron R, Hillis S. The impact of the Transcendental Meditation program on government payments to physicians in Quebec: An update. Am J Health Promot 2000;14(5):284-293.
10. Schneider RH, Grim CE, Rainforth MA, et al. Stress reduction in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: Randomized controlled trial of Transcendental Meditation and health education in Blacks. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2012;2(5).
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• Why a course fee, anyway — why isn't TM taught for free? >>

Why a course fee — can't the TM technique be taught for free?

The Transcendental Meditation technique is not just watching your breath, contemplating, concentrating, or trying to be mindful. It's not guided imagery or common mantra meditation. It's authentic meditation that's easy to practice—once properly learned—but it can't be learned from a book, website or download.

http://meditationasheville.blogspot.com/p/how-tm-compares.html
Click here >>
Personal instruction: Learning the TM technique remains refreshingly human, involving in-person private instruction, along with a series of classes (either in person or remotely through a digital course) taught by a professional teacher who is rigorously trained and certified. The program also comes with a lifetime of free personal follow-up and support.

If learning the TM technique requires the time of a professional instructor, in-depth classes, an adequate teaching space and continuing follow-up, obviously expenses will be incurred—thus the course fee.

Non-profit: The TM technique is offered by a non-profit educational organization [501(c)(3)] called Maharishi Foundation USA, which exists solely to train and certify teachers and bring the benefits of fully effective meditation to people everywhere. Part of every TM course fee helps fund someone to learn who cannot afford to pay. Over 1 million people at risk have learned the TM technique for free over the past 10-15 years. See http://www.tm.org/inside-story


The TM course fee is determined by what it costs to make the program available—there are no added profit margins. The reason you can learn the TM technique today is because so many others before you have paid their course fee to sustain the program—giving something back and paying it forward.

click image to enlarge
Uniqueness: The TM technique is distinguished by its ease of practice, holistic benefits and scientific verification. It's standardized, systematic instruction process ensures effectiveness and consistency of results. As science has shown, all meditation techniques are not the same and do not produce the same results—and other forms of meditation have not been found by scientific research to produce the broad range of benefits associated with TM practice. For example, the American Heart Association, after doing its own comparative research, determined that the TM technique is the only form of meditation effective for reducing high blood pressure.

Rediscovery: This technique of effortless transcending had been long lost to society, even in India, before Maharishi Mahesh Yogi introduced it to the world in 1955. To maintain the technique's original effectiveness and authenticity, and help ensure that it doesn't get lost again, it is taught in the same systematic way by certified instructors worldwide.

Could it be taught for free? Does one really need a trained and certified teacher, personalized instruction, a seven-step course and follow-up to properly learn and correctly practice this meditation technique and enjoy its full benefits? The experience of thousands of TM teachers providing meditation instruction around the world for the past fifty years—along with hundreds of independent, peer-reviewed scientific research studies verifying the program’s effectiveness—definitively says yes: this careful, professional way of teaching may require a course fee, but it has proven marvelously beneficial for those who learn. 

Anyone who wants can learn: There is a sliding scale of standard fees for the TM course, based on household income, with reduced rates for full-time students and those under financial hardship. There are also payment plans, grants, scholarships and work-study options to help cover the cost. Due to the program's non-profit and non-commercial structure, anyone who wishes to learn the TM technique can learn.
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Dr. Sandeep Chaudhary: When you purchase anything of value, of course, cost is a consideration. But the TM technique is actually inexpensive if you consider what you're getting: a program you'll benefit from every day of your life—a program known to help prevent heart attack and stroke, to help people sleep better, to avert the harmful effects of stress. And those are just side effects. The real benefit is that you enjoy your life so much more.

There's also ongoing follow-up and personal checking of meditation to ensure correct practice, and there's continued knowledge and guidance, if desired, at TM centers everywhere for the rest of your life—and you get all that follow-up for free.

As a physician, I see the TM technique not only as lifesaving but also as a cost-savings tool. We know how much the average American spends on health care in a lifetime. I live with these statistics. And I see the cost of it everyday in human terms.

I've also seen the statistics on how the TM technique reduces health care costs. Let me tell you, anyone who says the TM technique is too expensive, just take a look at how much money America is spending on medical bills and health insurance every year. It's a lame argument.

The Transcendental Meditation program is the most powerful preventive medicine we have. It pays for itself many times over.

Dr. Sandeep Chaudhary is Medical Director of Wellspring Endocrinology at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, California.
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