Summary of Policy
Statement Issued by the
American Heart Association
(April 2013)
According to the American Heart Association, the Transcendental Meditation technique is the only meditation practice that has been shown to lower blood pressure.
The AHA’s scientific statement* said: “Because of many negative studies or mixed results and a paucity of available trials, all other meditation techniques [including Mindfulness] received a ‘Class III, no benefit, Level of Evidence C’ recommendation. Thus, other meditation techniques are not recommended in clinical practice to lower BP at this time.”
Reduced rates of death, heart attack and stroke
The AHA scientific statement also reported the finding that lower blood pressure through Transcendental Meditation practice is associated with substantially reduced rates of death, heart attack and stroke.
The AHA scientific statement concludes that alternative treatments that include the Transcendental Meditation technique are recommended for consideration in treatment plans for all individuals with blood pressure greater than 120/80 mm Hg.
* Brook RD et al., Beyond Medications and Diet: Alternative Approaches to Lowering Blood Pressure. A Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association. Hypertension, 61:00, 2013.
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Authentic TM technique
Beware of meditations claiming to be the same or similar to the TM technique. They are very different—and there is no evidence they provide the same benefits documented in the published research on the TM technique.
Certified TM teachers
The TM technique can only be taught by certified TM teachers in a course carefully personalized for each individual. All certified TM teachers have successfully completed an intensive 5-month in-residence Teacher Training Course, and they maintain their certification through ongoing professional courses for TM teachers.
If you learn meditation from anyone who’s not a certified TM teacher, you’re not learning the authentic TM technique.
Personalized one-on-one instruction
All certified TM teachers provide personal one-on-one TM instruction—as well as group sessions to provide further instruction and to ensure your TM practice is easy and enjoyable, and you’re gaining maximum benefit.
Free lifetime support
All of these are available at no extra cost if and when you want them:
- Personal one-on-one “tune-ups” of your TM practice
- TM refresher courses
- Access to certified TM teachers anywhere in the U.S. to answer your questions
TM community
You’ll be invited to advanced lectures, special events, group meditations, celebrations, online resources, and more.
Helping those in need
More than 500,000 full TM scholarships have been given to at-risk children, military veterans, domestic violence victims, homeless people, and others in need, through partnerships with the David Lynch Foundation and other non-profit organizations.
TM.org