For Chris Jackson, a 64-year-old building contractor from New Hampshire, attending regular TM Retreats during the winter holidays has provided a restful rhythm to his year. “My work is creative, but mentally and physically stressful, and taking deep rest at a TM Retreat helps me prepare for the busy building season in spring,” Chris says. “The chance to enjoy long meditation anchors my year, allowing me to drop into deeper experiences.

“I come away with a tremendous boost in energy and creativity, and surprising experiences of support of nature. The practice of TM and the retreats have been essential to my success in this business for 38 years.”

Jackson says it wasn’t always this way. He started meditating in the early 70s, but while raising his family in the 80s, he stopped meditating regularly. Then in the 90s came a wake-up call. Worn down from the long-term stress and grief of caring for an elderly parent, he spiraled into a dark period of depression. “At some point I decided that I wasn’t going to go down, and I made a commitment to meditating regularly and going to TM Retreats,” he says. “That became the key to my recovery.”

The deeper rest provided at a TM Retreat helps release deeper stresses, and the entire structure creates an environment conducive to experiences of higher states of consciousness and growth of enlightenment.

Deep Rest and Profound Knowledge

If you’ve never been to a TM Retreat, think of it as a completely satisfying and well-structured rest. You’ll have the chance to get plenty of sleep, enjoy freshly cooked vegetarian meals, and spend extra time practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique. You will also view videotapes of Maharishi, and have the opportunity to ask questions about your experience of meditation and its benefits.

But even more importantly, the deeper rest provided at a TM Retreat helps release deeper stresses, and the entire structure creates an environment conducive to experiences of higher states of consciousness and growth of enlightenment.

Rapid Transformation

“Weekend retreats are great because they offer a rapid transformation in just a few days,” says an elementary school teacher who has practiced the TM technique for 40 years. “On my first course, I had a wonderful experience—it was as if the layers of fatigue and stress were peeled away, and what was left were the more profound levels of my own awareness, my own deeper levels of happiness, intelligence, and creativity. It gave me a vision of what is possible through TM practice.

“More importantly, after the course, I felt great! The world looked brighter and more beautiful to me. My appreciation for others increased. And it had very practical results. I was thinking more clearly and attracting more success. I think we all know that when we are functioning at our best, it is easier to fulfill desires.”

New Practices to Support Your Meditation

On TM Retreats, Jackson enjoys having more time to meditate. He also practices yoga asanas or postures, plus a simple breathing exercise called pranayama. These are taught on Retreats to deepen the experience during meditation. Jackson has incorporated the yoga practice into his daily routine, each morning before he meditates, to remove surface stresses and smooth the way to deeper meditations.

He also finds that the pranayama breathing exercise helps stabilize his emotions.

Now a veteran of at least 25 TM Retreats, Jackson feels the effects are cumulative. “I arrive at each course more rested than the previous year, which means I spend less time sleeping and recovering from the stress of my life, and more time expanding and deepening my meditation experiences.” Jackson says that for him it was simply a matter of making his meditation practice and TM Retreats a priority. “And when you decide to do something positive, a way gets made.”

“After the course, I felt great! The world looked brighter and more beautiful to me. My appreciation for others increased. And it had very practical results. I was thinking more clearly and attracting more success.” —Elementary school teacher

Quotes from Retreat Participants

“It helps you unwind and get your bearings. As the course comes to a close, the worries of the world seem obscure.” —J.S.

“Thank you for the wonderful Weekend Retreat! I have been completely transformed. I had been experiencing a lot of stress and deep anxiety. I now feel rejuvenated, more calm, peaceful, and grounded. In addition, I was deeply moved by the profound knowledge and experienced deep rest, rejuvenation and bliss.” —E.K.

“I am a full-time Ph.D. student and a part-time business consultant. A Weekend Retreat always helps me to work and study more efficiently.” —P.T.

“Loved it! Came with a heavy heart, left lighter. I’ll be back again. “ —B.C.

“Deeply nourishing to body, mind, and spirit.” —N. L.

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