If you’re stressed by a never-ending parade of tests and group projects, listen up. There’s another way to relax that won’t result in your liver giving up by the time you hit 30.
According to a study in the December American Journal of Hypertension, transcendental meditation can lower stress and anxiety among college students. Reuters’ Joene Hendry reports:
“Blood pressure fell among college students who spent about 20 minutes at least once a day to reach the “restful alertness” state of transcendental meditation, Dr. Sanford I. Nidich, at Maharishi University of Management Research Institute in Maharishi Vedic City, Iowa, and colleagues report.”
Transcendetal meditation was introduced to the United States in 1959 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, a guru who taught the Beatles.
Practioners spend 20 minutes twice a day seated with eyes closed, reciting a sound or phrase.
So the next time your stressing during an exam, close your eyes for a minute and find your happy place. Just don’t fall asleep — that’s bound to raise your blood pressure later.
—Diamondback Assistant News Editor Derby Cox wrote this blog post.