The David Lynch Foundation has partnered with a leading charter school in Los Angeles that offers 500 indigenous students a rigorous course of study and knowledge of their native cultural values. Through providing TM to these students, the Foundation aims to enhance academic achievement, improve graduation rates, and develop greater emotional intelligence and coping ability - paving the way for these students to develop into the future leaders of America.
Urban youth are under tremendous pressure to perform academically even while often coping with difficulties at home and in their neighborhoods. In communities where violence and crime are many times the norm, many of today's youth suffer from stress and anxiety that can trigger numerous health, emotional and cognitive issues.
The innate appreciation for meditation among indigenous cultures makes the Transcendental Meditation technique a natural fit for relieving the stress of urban life and promoting learning readiness and academic achievement. Over 340 peer-reviewed studies, including numerous studies conducted within student populations, demonstrate the effectiveness of the TM technique for reducing stress and stress-related ailments and profoundly enhancing performance.
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.