Health and Well-Being in Communities of Color A Consideration of Transcendental Meditation: A Means of Empowerment Randolph Carter East Ed Presented at the 38 th Annual Minority Health Conference UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health Friday, February 24, 2017
Session Objectives To place TM as a resource to communities of color at a time of national crisis by: Reducing stress Improving health Improving cognitive functioning Improving organizational effectiveness Building strong relationships across difference How this leads to empowerment
First Find a partner Think about a time when you had a memorable experience of difference Share that experience with your partner Now, as you think of that experience, is there someplace where that experience resides in your body? Please share that with your partner
Next Let s have a moment of quietness Note: this is not TM, rather an experience for this group that gives a sense of where TM might start Let s sit comfortably Close the eyes Relax to the extent you can 2-3 mins Now we will open the eyes
Summary of the Technique Simple, effortless mental technique Practiced for 20 minutes twice daily Does not involve concentration Does not involve worship, prayer, belief system Provides easy access to the experience of restful alertness Comes from the Vedic tradition
Scientifically Validated Several hundred studies on the health and psychological effects Conducted at over 200 independent research institutions (UCLA, Harvard, Stanford, etc.) Published in numerous leading peer reviewed journals (International Journal of Neuroscience, Intelligence, Archives of Internal Medicine, etc.) Research funded by over $24 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Making a difference in schools https://www.davidlynchfoundation.org/videos.html#video=93-nznblcbe
Making a difference with incarcerated youth and adults https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_t3icjv yli https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqcy_h KMvJE
Mechanics of Transcendental Meditation Pure Consciousness
Restful Alertness Restful alertness is an experience characterized by: Low metabolism Coherent brain functioning Reduction of basal skin conductance Reduced stress hormone levels (cortisol, plasma lactate) Reduced O2 consumption and spontaneous breath suspension
Physical Health Effects High Blood Pressure Heart Disease Headaches Insomnia Biological Aging Reduction of Substance Abuse Energy and Strength Longevity
Physiologic Changes during Restful Alertness Meta-analysis is a procedure for drawing definitive conclusions from large bodies of research studies. A meta-analysis of all available physiological research on the Transcendental Meditation program found that the practice of this technique produces a state of deep rest compared to control conditions, as measured by reduced respiration rate, reduced basal skin conductance (increased skin resistance), and reduced plasma lactate. Reference: American Psychologist 42: 879 881, 1987.
Systolic Blood Pressure Change (mm Hg) Changes in Blood Pressure A Randomized Controlled Trial of Transcendental Meditation, Progressive Muscle Relaxation and Education Control in Older African Americans with Hypertension 0-5 EC PMR p <.02-10 TM p <.0004-15 0 1 2 3 Months of Treatment R. Schneider, F. Staggers, C. Alexander, et al. Hypertension 1995, vol. 26, pp. 820-827
Effectiveness in Reducing BP Meta-Analysis TM Relaxation Response Other Meditation Biofeedback Systolic BP Diastolic BP All others -5 0 5 10 15 Mm Hg.American Journal of Health Promotion. 1998:(5)297-298
Blood Pressure Change Scores Meta-analysis of Stress Reduction Programs in Patients with High Blood Pressure 5 4 3 2 1 0-1 -2-3 -4-5 * ** TM PMR BF BFR SMR TM = Transcendental Meditation PMR = Progressive Muscle Relaxation BF = Biofeedback BFR = Biofeedback + Relaxation SMR = Stress Management + Relaxation * =.02 systolic ** =.0002 diastolic This meta-analysis reflects outcomes of all well-designed, randomized controlled studies examining the effects of stress-reduction programs on hypertension published in peer-reviewed journals prior to July 2007. Current Hypertension Reports 9:520-528, 2007.
Cooper MJ, Aygen MM. Transcendental Meditation in the management of hypercholestrolemia. Journal of Human Stress 1979;5:24 27
Effects of the Transcendental Meditation Program on Metabolic Syndrome: A Precursor to Diabetes and Heart Disease 6 5 4 p=0.42 p=0.01 3 2 TM HOMA (n=41) HE HOMA (n=36) 1 0 Entry -1 Change in Insulin/Glucose Exit Archives of Internal Medicine, American Medical Association, June 12, 2006
Admissions/1000 Members Decreased Hospital Admissions Rate in All Categories of Disease 20 15 p <.00001 Other Groups TM 10 5 0 6 Childbirth Intestinal Nose, Throat, Lung Heart Genital & Urinary Injuries Tumors Bones & Muscle Ill-Defined Condition 0 All Mental Disorders Nervous System Metabolism Infectious Diseases Other Medical Carveout Skin Congenital Blood Orme-Johnson, D.W., Medical care utilization and the Transcendental Meditation program. Psychosomatic Medicine, 1987. 49:493 507.
Eyes Closed Rest Eyes Closed--TM 1 2 3 4 Eyes Open 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Broadband Frontal Coherence (6-45 Hz) EEG coherence during activity 0.40 0.35 0.30 0.25 0.20 0.15 0.10 0.05 0.00 Baseline 2 Months 6 Months 12 Months Months Transcendental Meditation Practice Brain wave coherence in activity increases with length of time practicing TM
Spontaneously Improves Behavior Anger Giving Harmony Positive Social Interactions Including Organizational
Psychological & Cognitive Effects Anxiety Memory Creativity Intelligence Self-Actualization
Effectiveness in Reducing Trait Anxiety Meta-Analysis TM Placebo Other Relaxation Relaxation Response Other Meditation PMR EMG-Biofeedback Mantra Meditation Concentration 0.5 1 Stanford University: Journal of Clinical Psychology. 1989; 45:957-974
Change in Profile of Mood States Inventory Decreased Psychological Distress in Administrators and Teachers, over 4 month period 4 2 TM Control 0-2 -4-6 Depression Anxiety Anger p=.0001 p=.002 p=.0014 Source: Psychological tests in randomized control study with SFUSD administrators and teachers 25
Change in Perceived Stress Scale 0 Decreased Perceived Stress Random Assignment Study 74 Teachers and Staff p <.01-4.00-8.00 Control TM R
Change in NIH PROMIS Decreased Fatigue Random Assignment Study 74 Teachers and Staff Random 0 Assignment Study with 74 Teachers & School Personnel Change between January and May 2013y with 74 Teachers & School Personnel -4.00 p <.01 Change between January and May 2013-8.00 Control TM R
Change in Maslach Burnout Inventory 8 6 4 2 0-2 -4-6 Decreased Emotional Exhaustion Random Assignment Study 74 Teachers and Staff p <.01-8 Control TM
Comparing TM to other forms of rest, yoga, relaxation. 61 60 59 58 57 Pre Post 56 55 54 53 TM Contemplation Control TM vs. Contemplation p <.001 TM vs. Control p =.004 Source: Intelligence 29/5 (2001): 419-440.
Reduced Psychological Distress in Racial and Ethnic Minority Students Practicing TM TM Age 16 17 Control Gender (% male) 33% 18% Ethnicity AF AM 18 9 Latino 22 6 White 6 8 Psychological distress 3.61 2.76 Trait Anxiety 36.37 34.02 MHI 20.38 22.07
. 61 PRACTICAL INTELLIGENCE CONSTRUCTIVE THINKING INVENTORY (CTI) 60 59 58 57 56 Pre Post 55 54 53 TM Contemplation Control TM vs. Contemplation p <.001 TM vs. Control p =.004 Source: Intelligence 29/5 (2001): 419-440.
Change in Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory INCREASED EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE 6 4 2 0-2 -4 Emotional Self- Awareness p=.003 Self Actualization p=.002 Self Regard p<.0001-6 TM Control
Change in Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory INCREASED EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE 6 4 2 0-2 -4 Reality Testing p=.0003 Interpersonal Relations p=.008 Optimism p=.0004-6 TM Control
Change in Resilience Scale Increased Resilience Random Assignment Study 74 Teachers and Staff 5.0 p <.05 2.5 0 Control TM
Summary TM is a scientifically validated technique that: Reduces anxiety Improves cognitive functioning Increases energy & happiness Lowers cholesterol Decreases blood pressure Reduces incidence of cardiovascular disease Improves longevity or life expectancy Improves individual and organizational efficiency
Course Structure Phase I: Core Instruction 4 classes 60-75 minutes each conducted over 4 consecutive days Phase II: Follow-up Instruction 1 meeting per week for four weeks 1 meeting per month for 6 months thereafter each session 30 40 minutes group practice - optional One-day retreat - Advanced training, deep rest and rejuvenation
Course Structure: Fees Adults $960 Couple $720 Student $480 HS student $360 Scholarships available
Randolph Carter Certified TM Teacher East Ed 202-464-1996 rcarter@tm.org rcarter@easted.org www.easted.org www.tm.org Contact