TM Meditation

What Is It?

Transcendental Meditation (TM) was developed by the Indian teacher Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (1918 to 2008) and spread around the world. You sit quietly twice a day for about 20 minutes and silently repeat a personal mantra. The goal is a state of deep relaxation that reduces stress and leads to clarity and calm. Maharishi also developed Maharishi Ayurveda; more on that under Ayurveda.

What Does the Research Say?

In studies, meditation lowers stress, anxiety and blood pressure. For Parkinson's there are small studies on mindfulness and meditation that show better mood and quality of life. An effect on the disease itself has not been proven. But for many people with Parkinson's, stress makes the tremor worse, so it pays to find calm.

My Experience

During my stay on Baltrum in October 2021 I meditated every day, and it did me good during a hard time. Today I think meditation is good, but I don't meditate regularly myself. Instead I do breathing exercises now and then. When I lie down to do them, I notice how I become calmer overall. In 2026 I made a conscious effort to focus more on finding calm.

My Conclusion

For me, calm is an underrated building block. Whether it's meditation, breathing exercises or long walks: the main thing is to find a form you keep up over time.