Running Motivation

Sitting in a field of flowers, legs crossed, wrapped in white cloth, the sweet smell of incense wafting through the air. That's what most people think of when they hear the word: meditation. But what we see and hear in the media is not always an accurate picture of reality. The Transcendental Meditation technique is a simple mental procedure that is practiced for twenty minutes twice per day. It has been learned by millions of people and has been the subject of hundreds of research studies. But just what is Transcendental Meditation (or TM) and how does one learn it? Here are some of the details regarding the TM technique and its practice.

Environment-While it is certainly enjoyable to practice the Transcendental Mediation technique in a quiet place it is not necessary. Many busy people in all walks of life practice the TM technique in airports, train stations, lobbies and hotel rooms. Because the TM technique is an automatic and natural response of the mind and body, the process is easy in any kind of environment whether it is quiet and secluded or noisy and public.Posture--Transcendental Meditation (TM) is practiced sitting comfortably with the eyes closed. One can sit in a chair, on the bed or on the floor. Any location or sitting position is considered to be correct as long as one is comfortable. The TM technique is never practiced while lying down.

TM is not a religion.It has nothing to do with religion. It does not involve any discipline of having to be a vegetarian or doing yoga stance or postures or living like a swami (holy man). In fact it helps to make religion become more alive, more meaningful on the level of love and self-giving. It can be practice by anyone regardless of religion.

The technique of TM is easy and effortless. It is also unique and profound. Because each person has different experiences during their TM course and also learns at a different pace, personal instruction by a certified TM teacher is vital. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the founder of the TM technique, in his book The Science of Being and Art of Living explains it like this: "The practice of Transcendental Meditation must always be given by the expert teachers of Transcendental Meditation who have been properly trained to give it and who have been trained to check the experiences. The checking of experiences is a vital point in the practice of Transcendental Meditation. Again, it cannot be done through books."

Don't worry, I hear your preemptive questions, "bbbbbuutt what about the secret to becoming a pro-meditator overnight?". Well, luckily for you, we've found the magic recipe to becoming an adept meditator. Best of all, it'll only take you approximately three weeks to become a pro (but you'll have to immerse yourself in meditation during this time).Alright, so here's our secret to entering deep levels of meditation relatively quickly. Are you ready for it? To reach the deepest levels of meditation in a short period of time we use audio entrainment devices. These audio products abound on the internet, and you can choose whichever one you like, so long as you consistently use it for at least three weeks.

People might tell you this is cheating, that meditation requires a lot of effort and years of practice. This is bull. People who tell you this are scared of change, and they usually have their egos attached to meditation. To reach the deepest levels of meditation you have to be willing to try new methods and techniques until you find one that is right for you. We've found that after using these audio programs for three weeks (in the morning and before going to sleep) we've been able to slow down and analyze our thoughts on a regular basis. This means we can now begin to change the thoughts we have to the ones we want to have. This will be the basis for our next article, but for now you should have an idea of what you have to start working on. Here's what you have to do:

"Medication for ADHD is very effective for some children, but it is marginally or not effective for others. Even for those children who show improved symptoms with the medication, the improvement is often insufficient or accompanied by troubling side effects," Stixrud said. "Virtually everyone finds it difficult to pay attention, organize themselves and get things done when they're under stress. So it stands to reason that the TM technique which reduces stress and organizes brain function would reduce ADHD symptoms." While in some cases a child cannot function without medication, there is growing concern about the health risks and side effects associated with the common ADHD medications, including mood swings, insomnia, tics, slowed growth, and heart problems. In 2006 the FDA required manufacturers to place warning labels on ADHD medications, listing the potential serious health risks.

Then all you have to do is wait for our next article, and we'll get started on changing those thought patterns.The 1990's were a time of yuppies, day-traders and twenty something stock brokers. Any young upstart with a fresh idea and a borrowed suit could get investor cash for his or her dot-com, get-rich-quick, scheme. During that time, I saw my peers judging one another primarily by the car they drove, the watch they wore and how hot their dates looked. The power of so much money, so easily obtained, was intoxicating, and many of my generation began to identify themselves solely by their possessions. They placed almost no value on personal fulfillment despite their chronic lack of inner happiness.Instead they developed a dangerous routine of long work weeks and late night parties which often included drugs and alcohol. As for me, I had a different agenda.

The results were quite remarkable".Andy and Daryl Schoenbach's daughter was diagnosed with ADHD in second grade. Like most ADHD children she was taking medication. "The medication helped but had mixed results-she still lost focus, had meltdowns, and the medications affected her sleep and appetite," said Andy, who lives with Daryl in Washington D.C. "She was not performing close to her potential and we didn't see the situation improving. So at the end of seventh grade when her doctor recommended increasing the medication, we decided it was time to take a different course-stopping the medication and using Transcendental Meditation." The results were quite remarkable," Daryl said. "The twice daily meditations smoothed things out, gave her perspective, and enabled her to be in greater control of her own life when things started falling apart. It took some time, but it gradually changed the way she handled crises and enabled her to feel confident that she could take on greater challenges -in her own words, 'climb a mountain.'"

Everyone noticed the change," Andy added.Grosswald explained that there is substantial research showing the effectiveness of the TM technique for reducing stress and anxiety, and improving cognitive functioning among the general population. "What's significant about these new findings is that among children who have difficulty with focus and attention, we see the same results. TM doesn't require concentration, controlling the mind or disciplined focus. The fact that these children are able to do TM, and do it easily shows us that this technique may be particularly well suited for children with ADHD," she said.This study was funded by the Abramson Family Foundation and the Institute for Community Enrichment.A second, recently completed TM-ADHD study with a control group measured brain function using electroencephalography (EEG). Preliminary data shows that three months practice of the technique resulted in significant positive changes in brain functioning during visual-motor skills. Changes were specifically seen in the circuitry of the brain associated with attention and distractibility. After six months TM practice, measurements of distractibility moved into the normal range.A third, $2 million TM-ADHD study, to be funded in part by a grant from The David Lynch Foundation, will more fully investigate the effects of the technique on ADHD and other learning disorders.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).The Center for Disease Control reports that nearly 50 percent of the 4.5 million children (ages 4-17) in the United States diagnosed with ADHD are on ADHD medication-and the majority of those on medication stay on it in adulthood.The rate of prescriptions for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in the U.S. has increasing by a factor of five since 1991-with production of ADHD medicines up 2,000 percent in 9 years.The commonly used drugs for ADHD are stimulants (amphetamines). These drugs can cause persistent and negative side effects, including sleep disturbances, reduced appetite, weight loss, suppressed growth, and mood disorders. The side effects are frequently treated with additional medications to manage insomnia or mood swings. Almost none of the medications prescribed for insomnia or mood disturbances are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use with children.The long-term health effects of ADHD medications are not fully known, but evidence suggests risks of cardiac disorders and sudden death, liver damage and psychiatric events. It has also been found that children on long-term medication have significantly higher rates of delinquency, substance use, and stunted physical growth.

It's a simple effortless technique that brings improvement to all areas of life by creating a healthier body and a more efficient, fully functioning brain that is free from stress and anxiety.What price can we put on improved health, increased energy, creativity, happiness, better relationships and growing self-actualization? All this and more is possible according to the more than 600 published research studies and scores of theoretical papers, PhD dissertations and critical reviews from all over the world.