health and well-being in communities of color
TRANSCRIPT
Health and Well-Being in Communities of Color
A Consideration of Transcendental Meditation:
A Means of Empowerment
Randolph Carter East Ed
Presented at the 38th 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_t3ICJvylI
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQCy_HKMvJE
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.
Changes in Blood PressureA Randomized Controlled Trial of Transcendental Meditation,
Progressive Muscle Relaxation and Education Control
in Older African Americans with Hypertension
Sys
toli
c B
loo
d P
res
su
re C
han
ge
(mm
Hg
)
p < .02
p < .0004
EC
PMR
TM
R. Schneider, F. Staggers, C. Alexander, et al. Hypertension 1995, vol. 26, pp. 820-827
-15
-10
-5
0
Months of Treatment
0 1 2 3
Effectiveness in Reducing BP Meta-Analysis
TM
Other
Meditation
Relaxation
Response
0 15 5 Mm Hg
10
Bio-
feedback
All others
-5
Systolic BP
Diastolic BP
.American Journal of Health Promotion. 1998:(5)297-298
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
TM
PMR BF
BFR
SMR
* **
Blo
od
Pre
ssu
re
Ch
an
ge S
co
res
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.
TM = Transcendental Meditation PMR = Progressive Muscle Relaxation BF = Biofeedback BFR = Biofeedback + Relaxation SMR = Stress Management + Relaxation
Meta-analysis of Stress Reduction Programs in Patients with High Blood Pressure
* = .02 systolic
** = .0002 diastolic
Cooper MJ, Aygen MM. Transcendental Meditation in the management of hypercholestrolemia.
Journal of Human Stress 1979;5:24–27
-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Entry Exit
TM HOMA (n=41)
HE HOMA (n=36)
p=0.42 p=0.01
Change in Insulin/Glucose
Effects of the Transcendental Meditation Program
on Metabolic Syndrome:
A Precursor to Diabetes and Heart Disease
Archives of Internal Medicine, American Medical Association, June 12, 2006
Other Groups
TM
0
5
10
15
20p < .00001
0
6
Childbirth Intestinal Nose,
Throat,
Lung
Heart Genital &
Urinary
Injuries Tumors Bones &
Muscle
Ill-Defined
Condition
All Mental
Disorders
Nervous
System
Metabolism Infectious
Diseases
Other Medical
Carveout
Skin Congenital Blood
Ad
mis
sio
ns
/100
0 M
em
be
rsDecreased Hospital Admissions Rate
in All Categories of Disease
Orme-Johnson, D.W., Medical care utilization and the Transcendental Meditation
program. Psychosomatic Medicine, 1987. 49:493–507.
Eyes Open
Eyes Closed Rest Eyes Closed--TM
2
1
3
4
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
0.30
0.35
0.40
Baseline 2 Months 6 Months 12 Months
EEG coherence during activity B
road
ban
d F
ron
tal
Co
he
ren
ce
(6
-45
Hz)
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
Relaxation Response
0 1 .5
Concentration
Other Relaxation
Other Meditation
PMR
EMG-Biofeedback
Mantra Meditation
Stanford University: Journal of Clinical Psychology. 1989; 45:957-974
25
-6
0
p=.0001
Ch
an
ge
in
Pro
file
of
Mo
od
Sta
tes In
ve
nto
ry
Decreased Psychological Distress in Administrators and Teachers, over 4 month period
4
2
-4
-2
Depression
TM
Control
p=.002
Anxiety
p=.0014
Anger
Source: Psychological tests in randomized control study with SFUSD administrators and teachers
Decreased Perceived Stress Random Assignment Study
74 Teachers and Staff
Control TM -8.00
-4.00
0
p < .01
Ch
an
ge
in P
erce
ived
Str
ess
Sca
le
R
Decreased Fatigue Random Assignment Study
74 Teachers and Staff
Random Assignment Study with 74 Teachers & School
Personnel
Change between January and May 2013y with 74
Teachers & School Personnel
Change between January and May 2013
Control TM -8.00
-4.00
0
p < .01
Ch
an
ge
in N
IH P
RO
MIS
R
-8
-6
-4
-2
0
2
4
TM
Ch
an
ge
in M
asl
ach
Bu
rno
ut
Inv
ento
ry
Decreased Emotional Exhaustion Random Assignment Study
74 Teachers and Staff
Control
6
8
p < .01
Comparing TM to other forms of rest, yoga, relaxation
• .
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
TM Contemplation Control
Pre
Post
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 Control
Age 16 17
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
PRACTICAL INTELLIGENCE CONSTRUCTIVE THINKING INVENTORY (CTI)
• .
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
TM Contemplation Control
Pre
Post
TM vs. Contemplation p < .001 TM vs. Control p = .004
Source: Intelligence 29/5 (2001): 419-440.
-6
0
p=.003 Ch
an
ge
in B
ar-
On
Em
oti
on
al
Qu
oti
ent
Inv
ento
ry
INCREASED EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
6
4
2
-4
-2
Emotional Self-Awareness
TM
Control
p=.002
Self Actualization
p<.0001
Self Regard
-6
0
p=.0003
Ch
an
ge
in B
ar-
On
Em
oti
on
al
Qu
oti
ent
Inv
ento
ry
INCREASED EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
6
4
2
-4
-2
Reality Testing
TM
Control
p=.008
Interpersonal Relations
p=.0004
Optimism
Increased Resilience Random Assignment Study
74 Teachers and Staff
Control TM
0
2.5
5.0 p < .05
Ch
an
ge
in R
esil
ien
ce S
cale
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
Contact
• Randolph Carter
• Certified TM Teacher
• East Ed
• 202-464-1996
• www.easted.org
• www.tm.org