frequently asked questions

Vedic Meditation effortlessly settles the mind into the least excited state, unlike techniques that require contemplation, control, or mindfulness. This state reveals the natural bliss deep within, dissolves stress and reveals lasting benefits like compassion, clarity, calm, adaptability, intelligence, freedom, fulfillment and happiness - without effort, straining, or "trying."

Vedic Meditation has been passed down directly from teacher to student for thousands of years. This personal transmission is a key part of what keeps the technique pure, effective, and true to the tradition. Unlike generic guided meditations online, Vedic Meditation is a precise, personalized practice—taught through a specific sequence that ensures you learn it correctly and maximize the benefits.

Learning in person allows your teacher to give you a personalized mantra, and more importantly guide you through HOW to use the technique step by step, and then support you as you begin to meditate on your own. This in-person hands-on approach helps you experience the benefits right away and ensures your practice is effortless and effective from the very beginning.

Apps and videos can be great introductions to relaxation or to develop a regular routine, but they can’t take you to the profound depth, nor offer the level of clarity, benefits, and ongoing support that come from learning directly with a trained and certified Vedic Meditation teacher. The in-person course gives you the foundation you need for a lifelong, self-sufficient practice—with results that are consistent, lasting, and maximized.

No. Vedic Meditation is perfect for those who’ve struggled with meditation or totally new to it. Its effortless approach helps even restless minds settle into deep relaxation. Beginners find it easy to start, while experienced meditators enjoy a deeper experience of their practice.

Moreover, Vedic Meditation is equally beneficial for seasoned practitioners seeking a refined and systematic method to deepen their practice and to experience more impactful results from their meditations.

Regardless of your level of experience with various meditation forms, Vedic Meditation offers a tried-and-true approach grounded in ancient wisdom and tailored to modern lifestyles. Its systematic nature and personalized instruction ensure that even experienced meditators can benefit from its effectiveness in cultivating deeper states of relaxation, heightened awareness, and overall well-being. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned practitioner, Vedic Meditation offers a reliable and transformative path to inner peace and self-discovery.

Yes! Vedic Meditation works even if you're restless or have lots of thoughts and works anywhere that might even be too noisy. The technique doesn’t require focus or effort and we don't try to control the mind or negate thinking. Anywhere you can think, you can meditate. Thoughts are a part of meditation! We don’t try to fight them or push them away. Instead, we let our minds wander, gently coming back to the mantra whenever we notice ourselves getting lost in thought. The whole idea is to flow between thoughts and the mantra and to allow the intelligence of the body to release stress as needed and reveal more of our natural bliss.

This approach of allowing the mind to be completely unbounded is particularly helpful for folks dealing with restlessness or ADD/ADHD. The technique allows the mind to roam freely and naturally promotes more productivity and order outside of meditation in daily life.

Noise is no barrier to meditation. Anywhere you can think, you can meditate. Whether you're at a lively event, the airport, or even at the salon, it's still possible to engage in mindful thought, allowing the mantra to gently lead the mind into a profound state of tranquility. Despite the background noise—whether it's a barking dog or screaming kids—we can still reap all the benefits of the practice.

Vedic Meditation offers a potent remedy for those navigating hectic schedules, enabling them to 'do less, accomplish more.' By dedicating just 20 minutes, twice daily, to this practice, individuals experience the principle of 'established in Being, perform action.' Rather than dissipating energy on stress, Vedic Meditation fortifies our nervous system and enhances our cognitive function. As stress recedes, mental clarity flourishes, empowering individuals to approach tasks with heightened focus and efficiency. This enhanced productivity not only optimizes time management but also cultivates a sense of balance amidst life's demands, which quite literally means that you will have MORE time as a result of regular meditation and be able to use it with greater intention and appreciation.

No. Vedic Meditation is a simple mental technique that reveals our natural bliss and reduces accumulated stress in the body. There is no dogma, nor any subscriptions to follow, and you don't need to change your lifestyle. Just practice twice a day and experience the profound and lasting benefits.This inclusive nature of Vedic Meditation means that it can be embraced by individuals seeking its simple yet profound benefits, such as stress reduction, improved focus, and enhanced overall well-being. Whether practiced by those with a religious or spiritual foundation or by individuals without faith, the technique remains equally effective in promoting mental clarity, emotional resilience, and inner peace. By emphasizing its practical applications and tangible benefits, Vedic Meditation offers a universally accessible path to wellness, welcoming practitioners from diverse walks of life.

The form of meditation that Thom Knoles* teaches, and taught for over 25 years with the TM organizations as “Transcendental Meditation,” has been the subject of hundreds of scientific studies showing a wide range of benefits from regular practice. These studies, which refer to this form of meditation using the name “Transcendental Meditation” or “TM”, support the benefits obtainable from regular practice of Vedic Meditation. These benefits include:

 •Increased resistance to stress


• Increased levels of energy


• Relief from depression and anxiety


• Relief from insomnia


• Improved relationships with other people


• Improved, memory, concentration and learning ability


• Reduced risk of heart disease and tumors


• Relief from migraines, headaches and asthma


• Normalization of blood pressure


• Reduced cholesterol levels


• Normalization of weight


• Reversal of aging


• Increased self esteem


• Faster reaction times


• Improved sports performance


• Reduced use of alcohol, cigarettes and drugs

 * Thom Knoles trained Jessie Matthews to teach meditation as Thom was trained to teach meditation by Maharishi. 

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was a revered spiritual teacher from the Shankaracharya lineage of the Vedic tradition.

Jessie Matthews teaches Vedic Meditation and was trained to teach this form of meditation by Thom Knoles. Thom was trained as a teacher of Transcendental Meditation (“TM”) by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (“Maharishi”), and taught it for over 25 years with organizations affiliated with Maharishi. Since 1997, Thom has continued to teach this meditation as he learned it from Maharishi, and has done so independently and separately from the TM organizations, using the terms “Vedic Meditation". Thom Knoles trained Jessie to teach meditation as Thom was trained to teach meditation by Maharishi.  Jessie teaches Vedic Meditation independently and separately from TM organizations, and is not affiliated with those organizations.