Transcendental Meditation for Professionals

The SuperMind Peak Performance Programme, a division of the David Lynch Foundation UK, offers Transcendental Meditation to companies and organisations to help executives and employees overcome stress, promote health, and attain high levels of performance.

Business professionals are under constant pressure to elevate their decision-making, creativity, health, and fitness. The SuperMind Peak Performance Programme provides expert instruction in a simple, easy-to-learn, and evidence-based approach to optimise the brain, improve focus and mental clarity, reduce stress and fatigue, and increase energy. Our approach, Transcendental Meditation, has been utilised by tens of thousands of professionals worldwide.

Practical benefits for daily life

Over 350 published research studies have found that TM effortlessly produces a state of restful alertness that markedly improves energy and focus, reduces stress, anxiety, and fatigue, and improves mental and physical health

Published research on Transcendental Meditation has found it produces many benefits to health and wellness, including:

  • Increased energy and focus
  • Improved brain coherence
  • Broader comprehension and improved memory
  • Reduced stress and anxiety
  • Normalised blood pressure
  • Lower risk of heart attack and stroke
  • Reduced cortisol (known as the “stress hormone”)
  • Decreased insomnia

Read more on research and benefits

Improved Work-Life Balance

Through helping to relieve stress and tension and increasing energy, TM allows professionals to have more left over at the end of the day – which naturally translates into improved family relationships and satisfaction with their quality of life.

Read more

Hundreds of scientific studies have been conducted on the benefits Transcendental Meditation at more than 200 independent universities and research institutions worldwide during the past 40 years.

The USA National Institutes of Health have awarded over $26 million to research the effectiveness of TM for reducing stress and improving heart health. Findings have been published in leading, scientific journals, including The American Journal of Cardiology and the American Heart Association’s Hypertension and Stroke.

Key findings include: Elevated Performance

TM has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to enhance both productivity and satisfaction in one’s personal and professional life.

  • Improved productivity (Anxiety, Stress, and Coping, 1993)
  • Increased job satisfaction (Anxiety, Stress, and Coping, 1993)
  • Broad developments in creativity and intelligence (Intelligence, 2001)
  • Sharper focus and wider comprehension (Perceptual and Motor Skills,1974)
  • Increased self-actualisation (Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, 1991)

Optimised Brain Functioning

The prerequisites to peak performance – focus, creativity, broad comprehension, proactivity and planning – occur when the brain, and particularly the prefrontal cortex, is functioning coherently. Several rigorous studies have demonstrated that Transcendental Meditation – more than any other technique – enhances the brain’s coherent functioning.

  • Increased peak mental performance (Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 2009)
  • Improved brain functioning outside meditation (International Journal of Neuroscience, 2006)
  • Global alpha coherence during meditation (Consciousness and Cognition, 1999)

Reduced Stress and Anxiety, Increased Energy

Workplace stress is regarded as one of the foremost epidemics in our time – hampering productivity and job satisfaction and increasing risk of mental and physical illness. For professionals under high stress, TM will prove an invaluable tool for achieving sustained levels of performance.

  • Deep rest (American Psychologist, 1987)
  • 42% decrease in insomnia (Journal of Counseling and Development, 1985)
  • 25% decrease in plasma cortisol levels (Hormones and Behavior, 1978)
  • Greater resistance to stress (Psychosomatic Medicine, 1973)
  • 40% reduction in psychological distress, including stress and depression (American Journal of Hypertension, 2009)
  • 33% decrease in anxiety (Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2013)

How is TM unique?

1. Effortless

TM involves no concentration, contemplation or control of your mind – unlike other techniques. It is effortless and enjoyable, and can be practised sitting comfortably in a chair with the eyes closed.

2. Evidence-based

Over 350 published research studies on the TM technique have documented a wide range of unique wellness benefits, including markedly reduced stress and anxiety, and improved heart health and cognitive function.

3. Standardised for effectiveness

Transcendental Meditation is taught through a standardised course by certified teachers to ensure proper instruction and maximum benefits.

4. High Alpha Coherence

Researchers have determined that different meditation techniques affect brain functioning in different ways. Transcendental Meditation develops global alpha coherence, a pattern associated with calm alertness. The development of this coherence is especially marked in the prefrontal cortex – the brain’s executive planning centre – and demonstrates the growth in executive functions that occurs through practice of the technique.

Read more

Predominant brain activity during 3 different forms of meditation

What this means:

As doctors increasingly prescribe meditation techniques to patients for stress-related disorders, scientists are gaining a better understanding of how different techniques from a wide variety of traditions, both modern and ancient, produce different results. A paper published in Consciousness and Cognition discusses three categories to organise and better understand meditation:

  • Focused attention—concentrating on an object, idea, or emotion;
  • Open monitoring—being mindful of one’s breath, thoughts or feelings;
  • Automatic self-transcending—meditations that transcend their own activity

Each of these categories was assigned EEG bands, based on reported brain patterns during mental tasks, and meditations were categorised based on their reported EEG.

Supporting the work of the David Lynch Foundation’s UK to help transform the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged adults and children

A portion of every course fee from the SuperMind programme will help fund TM instruction for individuals suffering from extreme stress through one of the David Lynch Foundation’s programmes for school children, veterans with PTSD, prisoners, young offenders, the homeless and drug and alcohol recovery groups.

Learn Transcendental Meditation

Transcendental Meditation is taught in three phases: Phase 1, an initial five-step course, followed by Phase 2, a series of important weekly and monthly group and personal meditation “check-ups” to ensure that you are practising correctly and enjoying the full benefits. Up to 6 months follow-up programme is available to all practitioners at no charge. Phase 3, optional advanced lectures.

Read more

Phase One: 5-Step Course of Instruction

  • Step 1: TM introductory lecture – A discussion of what Transcendental Meditation is and is not, how the technique works, and a summary of published research on the benefits (60 minutes).
  • Step 2: Personal instruction in TM – Learn to meditate with private, one-to-one instruction from a certified TM teacher (90 minutes).
  • Steps 3, 4, & 5: Follow-up seminars of TM instruction – These classes will verify and validate your correct TM practice for maximum benefits in daily life (75 minutes each session).

*Steps 2–5 must be held on consecutive days.

Phase Two: TM Refresher Sessions

After completion of Phase 1, follow-up meditation refresher sessions, scheduled once or twice a month according to the convenience of your company or organisation, will help to ensure that each individual continues to practise the technique properly and gain maximum benefit (45 minutes each session). Up to 6 months of follow-up meditation refresher sessions are available for all participants at no additional charge.

Phase Three: Optional Advanced Lectures

After completion of Phases 1 and 2, advanced lectures are available for all participants through the David Lynch Foundation UK within 6 months of taking the programme at no additional charge.

David Lynch Foundation
Women’s Initiative

An epidemic of violence and abuse

Domestic violence, rape and violent assault are all around us. Consider these facts:

  • One out of four women will be assaulted or raped by their spouse or intimate partner during their lifetime, and nearly 3 million children are witnesses to it every year.
  • 250,000 children are at risk of becoming victims of sex trafficking every year.
  • In the military, 19,000 incidences of rape and sexual assault against female military personnel were recorded in 2010 alone.

Healing and empowering women and girls

To help combat the epidemic of violence and assault against women and children, the David Lynch Foundation launched a Women's Initiative in 2012 that offers Transcendental Meditation, an evidence-based, alternative therapy shown to heal and empower victims of abuse. The Initiative partners with leaders in the field of domestic violence and human trafficking across the U.S. and around the world to provide this therapy to women and children who need it most. Key findings from over 340 peer-reviewed studies include:

  • Reduced flashbacks and bad memories
  • Greater resistance to stress
  • Twice the effectiveness of conventional approaches for reducing alcoholism and substance abuse
  • 42% decrease in insomnia
  • Twice as effective as other relaxation techniques for decreasing trait anxiety
  • Improved quality of life

View references for these findings

Support women and girls in need

Proudly sponsored by

Avon

Help us bring the profound and scientifically validated mental and physical benefits of Transcendental Meditation to women and girls through Domestic Violence centers, homeless shelters and community projects worldwide.

Become a founding donor of the DLF Women’s Initiative 

Transcendental Meditation® in prison:
freedom behind bars

Breaking the cycle of crime

A significant proportion of crime is committed by offenders who have multiple problems. Evidence shows that drug dependency, mental illness, stress, frustration, and poor education fuel criminal behaviour.

  • Over 70% of the prison population suffer from two or more mental disorders
  • 43% of offenders are reconvicted within a year
  • Re-offending costs the economy £11bn a year. The cost for keeping someone in prison is £45,000 a year. Studies show that the combined cost of conviction and imprisonment for a year at £165,000

Combating re-offending through holistic rehabilitation

Over the past 35 years, the Transcendental Meditation has been taught with significant benefit to inmates and guards in some of the toughest prisons in the USA, including San Quentin, Folsom, and Walpole. Key results include:

  • Deep relaxation and relief from stress, anxiety, and depression
  • Increased spiritual well-being, optimism and purposefulness
  • Fewer rule infractions as well as reduced reconviction rates

View the complete research bibliography

How Transcendental Meditation works

Through providing a profound state of rest and relaxation, Transcendental Meditation allows inmates to relieve symptoms of deeply rooted stresses that can form the basis of criminal behaviour. As stresses are reduced, inmates are able to naturally experience an inner calmness, develop a greater self esteem and improve relationships. An easy-to-learn and non-religious programme, Transcendental Mediation has been warmly received by both prison guards and inmates.

Help create systemic change

Help the David Lynch Foundation UK support rehabilitation of offenders by reducing the underlying stress that can lead to crime and undermine existing rehabilitation programmes.

Donate today

African PTSD Relief

Reducing the horror caused by violence and war

In the past 20 years, 18 African nations have been ravaged by war. It is estimated that up to 100 million Africans have been victims of war, violence, sexual abuse or natural disasters or witnessed horrific acts of terror and now suffer from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

PTSD can be disabling. Its influence ripples out, affecting the lives of friends and families, co-workers, communities- and the nation as a whole. In many ways, PTSD disorder keeps affected communities under the shadow of trauma, even after the overt disturbance has passed.

Our approach: rapid and significant reductions in PTSD

Traumatic experiences leave an indelible impression in the victim’s brain leading to persistent flashbacks, inability to relate to others, disassociation, constant fear, hyper alertness, insomnia, isolation, drug abuse and frequent outbursts of uncontrollable anger. Individuals suffering from PTSD need a procedure to neutralise this neurophysiological condition.

Two recent peer reviewed studies, published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress demonstrate that Transcendental Meditation® (TM®) can help relieve PTSD symptoms in African refugees. These studies extend earlier research reporting that TM practice significantly reduces PTSD symptoms in Vietnam and Iraq/Afghanistan War veterans.

Study 1

In this 135-day study, 90% of refugees with high levels of PTSD symptoms decreased to non-symptomatic levels within 30 days of learning Transcendental Meditation. In contrast, the non-meditating control group showed no reduction in PTSD symptoms.

Reference: Journal of Traumatic Stress 26: 295-298, 2013.

Study 2

War refugees exhibited clinically significant reductions of PTSD symptoms within 10 days of learning Transcendental Meditation in this second study. Over the subsequent 30 days, practitioners continued to experience reductions in PTSD symptoms.

Reference: Journal of Traumatic Stress 27: 112-115, 2014.

About Transcendental Meditation

Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a simple and natural technique that can be universally learned by anyone regardless of age, educational background or walk of life. TM produces a unique and profound state of rest and relaxation by eliminating stress and restoring healthy, coherent cognitive functioning. Transcendental Meditation is not associated with any religion, philosophy or doctrine.

Survivors of war, violence, sexual abuse and natural disasters are able to overcome traumatic stress and re-establish a positive state of physical, emotional and social well-being by practising TM.

African PTSD Relief can help survivors of war, violence, sexual abuse, and natural disasters overcome the effects of traumatic stress and re-establish a positive state of physical, emotional and social well-being by making TM available to sufferers of PTSD in Africa.

Over 340 published research studies and $26 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health document the efficacy of TM for reducing stress-related disorders and promoting mental and physical health.

Support African PTSD Relief

Over the next year, African PTSD Relief plans to provide the TM technique to 5,000–10,000 Africans suffering from or at risk of PTSD and rapidly scale up over the subsequent years.

African PTSD Relief will work with top humanitarian organizations and NGOs to empower the victims of decades of war and violence in Africa. When people can overcome traumatic stress and overwhelming suffering in their lives, they experience a rapid rise in health, happiness and success.

To support African PTSD Relief, please donate today

Helping to create
healthier families and communities

Resolving crises in families and communities

The health and well-being of the family is crucial to the development and strength of our communities. Many vulnerable families are affected by problems such as drug and alcohol abuse, crime, mental illness, homelessness and unemployment.

  • Over 3 million children are living in poverty in the UK
  • 154,000 children in England live with a parent who has a severe and enduring mental health problem
  • Two women die every week in England and Wales, and one man every fortnight, as a result of domestic violence

Our approach: simple, natural, effortless

The David Lynch Foundation UK offers Transcendental Meditation as a programme to strengthen relationships and contribute to the stability of family life in society. This stress reducing meditation programme helps families and communities in difficulty, as well as educational organisations facing the deleterious effects of extreme stress. Benefits include:

  • Normalisation of blood pressure and reduced risk of atherosclerosis
  • Improved mental health and physical well-being
  • Greater happiness, focus, creativity and self-confidence

View the complete research bibliography

About Transcendental Meditation

Transcendental Meditation is a simple, natural mental technique that is easy to learn and to practise (for twenty minutes, twice daily). It does not involve any religion, philosophy, or change in lifestyle, but rather upholds and uplifts the cultural and religious traditions of all people. The technique is taught only by certified instructors with extensive experience through a standardized course of instruction that ensures maximum results.

Support the Foundation’s work with Families and Communities

Help share the healing and transformational benefits of Transcendental Meditation to reduce stress, increase positivity and inner calmness, and create more harmonious relationships within family and community life. Please donate today.

More Articles...

  1. Homeless
  2. Emergency Services
  3. War Veterans
  4. Schools