https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/01/seinfeld-meditation-and-weight-training.html Comedian Jerry Seinfeld believes there are just two healthy habits that “could solve just about anyone’s life”: Transcendental Meditation and weight training, he said during a recent episode of the podcast, “The Tim Ferriss Show.” Seinfeld, 66, explained that incorporating these techniques into his routine have helped him stay productive, focused and creative throughout his career. Here’s what you need to know about weight training and Transcendental Meditation: TM: ‘The ultimate work tool’ Transcendental Meditation (or TM) is a proprietary form of meditation that requires sitting for 20 minutes twice a day and repeating a mantra. (TM is taught by certified instructors and costs $380 to $960 on a sliding scale.) Oprah Winfrey, hedgefund billionaire Ray Dalio and even singer Lady Gaga are proponents of TM, and credit much of their success and productivity to the practice. Seinfeld agrees, calling TM “the absolutely ultimate work tool.” So, what makes this type of meditation so special? Practicing TM “allows the active thinking mind to just, all of it to just settle down, and experience quieter levels of thought,” Bob Roth, TM instructor and CEO of The David Lynch Foundation, said in a 2014 YouTube video. According to Seinfeld, TM helps to reduce stress and increase energy and focus. “As a standup comic, I can tell you, my entire life is concentration fatigue,” he said. “Whether it’s writing or performing, my brain and my body, which is the same thing, are constantly hitting the wall. And if you have [TM] in your hip pocket, you’re Columbus with a compass.” Seinfeld practices TM twice a day or “any time I feel like I’m dipping,” he said. For example, if he isn’t feeling inspired during a writing session, he will meditate. “If I sit down and the pen doesn’t move for like 20 minutes, I know I’m out of gas,” he said. Weight training three times a week Seinfeld’s workout routine includes a mix of lifting weights for an hour and interval cardio training three times a week. Seinfeld initially got into weight training by doing Bill Phillips’ “Body For Life” program, a 12-week diet and exercise regimen that includes exercising six times a week (three days for lifting weights and three days of high-intensity interval training) and eating six small meals a day. Now exercise is a crucial part of his daily routine. “There are a lot of days where I want to cry instead of do it because it really physically hurts,” Seinfeld said. “But I just think it’s very balancing to the forces inside humanity that I think are just, they overwhelm us.” There’s some science to this healthy habit: Studies have shown that resistance training workouts (exercises that strengthen your muscles using external resistance, like free weights, machines or your own bodyweight) can relieve symptoms of anxiety. The physical activity guidelines for Americans suggest that adults get 150-300 minutes a week (or 20-45 minutes a day) of moderate-intensity activity, or 75-150 minutes a week (or 10 to 20 minutes a day) of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity.
I think the article is generally a good one at this time of year for people looking at new year's resolutions. But I have a couple of bones to pick with it. I don't like the notion or implication that TM can't be self-taught, and that you need a certified instructor to teach it to you. That just seems like a cash grab. I did a search on Amazon, and couldn't find one book that actually teaches the method. Unfavorable reader reviews across all the TM books I looked at uniformly complained that the books were adverts for the course. Why does someone have to spend hundreds of dollars (it's over $1,000 here in Canada) to teach you to silently chant a mantra as compared to, say, following your breath? If anyone here has taken the course and believes that personal one-on-one instruction is critical, I'd like to hear from you in this thread. As some exercise researchers have concluded, exercise is generally overprescribed. 300 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a week? In any event, I think moderately intense exercise is overrated since my understanding is that it doesn't activate the higher order fast twitch motor units. And those are the first to go when age-related sarcopenia sets in. Or up to 150 minutes a week of high-intensity training? Setting aside athletes, the young and/or the enhanced, either I have a different interpretation of high intensity, or there are far more very fit people in this world than I previously thought.
Does TM still teach one how to levitate? Because that would be useful if there were a lot of ants at a picnic!
Only people with gobs of money would promote this bullshit. Like Seinfeld. It's Scientology " lite". They can all bugger off.
You're right, no need for expensive classes. Personally I like using the breathing techniques taught by Wm Hoff, along with what I'll call my quiet time. In his mid sixties three days a week of weight training is plenty. The other three of intense cardio is why he's hurting so much. I have one intense cardio day where I hit the heavy bag. I walk 3-4 miles most every day, a casual walk, but there are a few small slopes and little hills. Weight training upper/lower split at the moment, 3 day break between.That's plenty. I have also incorporated a monthly massage into the mix. No, not a rub and tug you degenerate bastards. Seriously, a good massage had done wonders for this old body.
Pick a word any word any mantra, close your eyes, breathe in and breathe out that mantra and you are self taught. . I think I do what’s called mindful meditation. I focus on my breathe, long grunt when breathing out and my third eye. The breathe (breathing techniques ) and the mantra when actually spoken can have great health benefits. It has a way of manipulating your endocrine system to release/secrete hormones that have great health benefits to your body. Dry fasting, no water or food, only water from the shower done once a year for at min 3 days to 7 days can add years to your life. Start with one day and try to work your way up. Read “The Phoenix Protocol” Send me $1000 and we call it even lol. Not me saying it just saying.