Since 2010, the David Lynch Foundation has partnered with New Village Charter High School to deliver twice-daily Quiet Time sessions to girls in need. Among New Village students, 98% of girls come from low-income households, 84% are Hispanic or Latina, and 34% have only limited English language proficiency. These Transcendental Meditation-based Quiet Time sessions have been shown to reduce stress, improve wellbeing and significantly increase test scores and graduation rates.
Our young girls who live in urban environments are confronted with enormous pressure to perform academically, while coping with difficulties at home and in their neighborhoods. In communities where violence and crime are often the norm, many of today's young women suffer from stress and anxiety that can trigger numerous health, emotional and cognitive issues.
The David Lynch Foundation will continue its partnership with New Village Charter High School during the 2013-14 academic year, offering TM to the entire student population. TM gives students a practical tool that empowers them to release stress and, at the same time, enliven their creativity and learning readiness.
Research indicates that Transcendental Meditation (TM) is of significant value for students. Key findings including 10% improvement in academic achievement, 40% reduction in symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression, and 86% decrease in suspension rates over two years. Meditating students also score higher on intelligence tests and standardized academic tests and exhibit higher graduation rates as compared to non-meditating students.
