Transcendental meditation course (Sat/Sun and Mon evening)

Practised effortlessly for just 20 minutes twice a day, transcendental meditation (TM) has wide-ranging benefits including relief from anxiety, depression, PTSD and addiction. TM can be learned by people as young as six years old, irrespective of beliefs, ability or background. It is an easy technique to learn and practice, even for those with the most active minds.

The course consists of a one-hour individual instruction, followed by three two-and-a-half-hour group sessions (over three consecutive days), with no discussion of an individual’s problems, and includes free support and guidance for life!

Learning TM does not require analysis or discussion of problems, (apart from a very brief and simple application form) because of the very subtle level at which it works. So, it is very compatible with and enhances, other treatments including psychological therapy and mindfulness (as indicated both by research and anecdotal evidence). 

There are many forms of meditation, all having different procedures, goals, and outcomes. Transcendental meditation (TM), which comes from the heart of the Yoga tradition, is significantly different from other forms of meditation in that no concentration, control, or even training of the mind is involved. Instead, because of its complete understanding of the nature of the mind, it’s an effortless, natural technique, simply sitting comfortably on a chair thinking a mantra silently.

The difference even from mindfulness, whilst superficially appearing quite subtle, produces profoundly different outcomes. Whilst mindfulness involves training the mind, Transcendental Meditation (TM) liberates the mind and allows it to naturally, effortlessly and spontaneously transcend (go beyond) the active, surface levels, beyond even the present moment.

Always wandering in search of happiness, the mind naturally settles towards a silence so deep that the body also gains a unique state of very deep rest, indicated by scientific research to be much deeper than sleep. This is the exact physiological opposite to the stress (fight/flight) response, and therefore even the deepest stresses created during life’s most challenging experiences, and ultimately the cause of all physical and mental health problems, are spontaneously released.

According to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi – (who was responsible for the spread of TM from the ashrams of India from 1958) – undue pressure of experience, whether mental or physical, may result in structural and biochemical abnormalities (‘stress’) in the body (known in Yoga literature for thousands of years as samskara or impressions [“scars”] in the nervous system). It is these ‘cellular memories’ rather than mental memories that cause the continuing experience of both physical and mental illness.

Effects of a challenging experience or trauma, including anxiety, depression, and symptoms of PTSD, are seen as the result of these physiological abnormalities distorting mental experience, and the physical release during TM practice relieves the psychological symptoms without any attention being given to the symptoms themselves. It is this ‘un-stressing’ that is said to be responsible for the spontaneous restoration of normal function of various systems in the body during meditation, particularly those involved in adapting to environmental challenges.

A wide range of resulting improvements in all areas of life from just 20 minutes of twice-daily Transcendental Meditation practice have been indicated by more than 700 scientific research studies, including reductions in symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD and addiction. Also, improvements in sleep, self-confidence, relationships, well-being and clarity of thought as well as a whole spectrum of physical health problems.

The course consists of a one-hour individual instruction followed by three two-and-a-half-hour group sessions (over three consecutive days) with no discussion of an individual’s problems and includes free support and guidance for life.

Details and booking:

Email: info@meditationtrust.com
Phone: +44 (0)1843 841010
Web: meditationtrust.com