Scientific Research on Transcendental Meditation (TM)

Scientific research has shown that the most beneficial meditation technique is Transcendental Meditation (TM). The striking reduction of stress and anxiety caused by TM are 3 times greater than the effect caused by most meditation and relaxation techniques.

Transcendental Meditation has been taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi since 1958. The first articles about the beneficial effects of TM were published around 1970 on important magazines and scientific journals such as

- Science (167, 1970),

- American Journal of Physiology (221, 1971) and

- Scientific American (226, 1972).

The basic research was conducted by two medical doctors from Harvard University, Herbert Benson and Robert Wallace. This research was made on dozens of American people who used to practice this technique regularly. These people were of any race, sex, age, job, and with different personal political or religious belief.

Later, a lot of research was made about this technique by several doctors and scientists, who wrote several articles on important scientific journals such as

- International Journal of Neuroscience,

- Psychosomatic Medicine,

- Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology,

- Journal of Clinical Psychiatry,

- Journal of Clinical Psychology,

and many more.

Dr. Benson never practiced this technique himself (Dr. Wallace did). Dr. Benson created his own relaxation technique, that is described in his book The relaxation response (HarperCollins, 1975, 2000), a best-seller that sold 5 millions of copies since 1975. Dr. Benson claims that his technique achieves the same results as Maharishi's TM. However, the actual results achieved by TM are 3 times greater than those achieved by the relaxation response technique, as shown by further research (Journal of Clinical Psychology, 45, 1989; and Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, 6, 1991).

Around 1995, Dr. Deepak Chopra created the Primordial Sound technique, that is very similar to Maharishi's Transcendental Meditation (TM) and can be considered as much as effective. Unfortunately Maharishi's TM and Chopra's technique are very expensive: the price of TM is prohibitive (US$2500.00). Chopra's technique is expensive also (starting at US$325).

Further on, a mystical atmosphere has been sorrounding the TM technique for years, and the Maharishi organization deals with several peculiar and weird projects that stun common people. This has prevented TM to be appreciated as it deserves. Transcendental Meditation is a simple, precious, effective technique that can help anybody to be more intelligent and creative, to live better and to reduce or remove stress, anxiety and other disorders.

That's why former TM teachers have started teaching this precious technique for less. For example check the websites: www.tm-meditation.co.uk (TM Independent UK) and www.natural-stress-relief.com.

For more information: http://transcendental.meditation.onwww.net/

Author Bio: F.Coppola, Ph.D. in Physics at Pisa University (Italy), has been practicing Transcendental Meditation (TM) since 1983 and advanced techniques (such as TM-Sidhis) since 1989. He has studied brain wave modifications during TM sessions and collaborated in the creation of a new mental exercise, the Natural Stress Relief technique. http://transcendental.meditation.onwww.net/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fabrizio_Coppola

What is meditation?

Meditation usually refers to a state in which the body is consciously relaxed and the mind is allowed to become calm and focused. Several major religions include ritual meditation; however, meditation itself need not be a religious or spiritual activity. Most of the more popular systems of meditation are of Eastern origin, though there exists also various forms of Christian, Jewish and Muslim meditation.
Meditation as a form of alternative medicine brings about mental calmness and physical relaxation by suspending the stream of thoughts that normally occupy the mind. Generally performed once or twice a day for approximately 20 minutes at a time, meditation is used to reduce stress, alter hormone levels, and elevate one's mood.
A discipline in which the mind is focused on a single point of reference. Employed since ancient times in various forms by all religions, the practice gained greater notice in the post war US as interest in Zen Buddhism rose. Meditation is now used by many nonreligious adherents as a method of stress reduction; known to lower levels of cortisol, a hormone released in response to stress. Enhances recuperation and improves the body’s resistance to disease.
Meditation is an easy and simple way to balance a person's physical, emotional, and mental states. It is easily learned and has been used as an aid in treating stress, anxiety, pain management, and as part of an overall treatment for other conditions including hypertension and heart disease. Research shows that meditation decreases the heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen consumption, and even decreases blood pressure.