Still unsure about transcendental meditation? Here are a few pointers to help you make up your mind

If you want to take up meditation, specifically, Transcendental Meditation (TM), but aren’t sure about the practise, here are a few pointers that’ll put you at ease.

All you need to know about transcendental meditation

According to the MayoClinic, transcendental meditation is a type of meditation where you use a mantra, such as a word, sound or phrase repeated silently, to narrow your conscious awareness and eliminate all thoughts from your mind. You focus exclusively on your mantra to achieve a state of perfect stillness and consciousness.
 

• The TM technique is an easy, effortless mental process practised for 15 to 20 minutes twice a day, sitting quietly and comfortably in a chair with your eyes closed.
• Immediate benefits: The pros of the TM technique are immediate and increase over time. According to Nutrition & Healing, hundreds of research studies conducted at top medical schools and published in over 350 peer-reviewed scientific journals have verified the technique’s positive effects for mind, body and relationships. In fact, FSPHealth reports that US researchers from The Medical College of Wisconsin found that TM could reduce your risk of a heart attack, stroke and even death if you have coronary heart disease.
• No belief required: The TM technique isn’t based on belief or religion. In fact, you can be completely sceptical and the technique will still be fully effective.
• TM develops your brain. According to Nutrition & Healing, research shows the TM technique develops the total brain. And as a result helps increase creativity, intelligence and improves you decision-making and problem-solving abilities.
• TM reduces stress and high blood pressure. Medical school research funded by the National Institutes of Health shows that the TM technique is the most effective mind-body practise for reducing stress and stress-related disorders, including hypertension, high cholesterol, stroke and atherosclerosis.

Remember, there's no right way or wrong way to meditate. What matters is that meditation helps you with stress reduction and feeling better overall, says the MayoClinic. And TM is the best way to help you do just that. Just check online for meditation centres in your area.