The TM course: how to learn the TM technique

The Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique is taught in a structured and personalized manner over four consecutive days. Only certified TM teachers, with deep expertise, teach this authentic technique that can permanently enrich your life.
Book a TM course

What is the TM course?

The TM course is the four-day programme in which you learn the Transcendental Meditation technique from a certified TM teacher. The four days are consecutive. On day 1 you receive personal one-on-one instruction from a certified TM teacher, including your personal mantra. On days 2, 3 and 4 you have follow-up sessions in small groups. You can choose a fully in-person course or a hybrid format (in-person + online). After four days you can practise TM completely independently. The course fee (€495 to €895, depending on income; lower rates for students and secondary school students) includes lifetime follow-up with any TM teacher worldwide.

By , psychologist, certified TM teacher since 1977 and chair of TM Netherlands · Last updated

Noah Schechtman
3 min

“You can choose either the in-person or hybrid TM course. The content is the same in either course.”

Noah Schechtmancertified TM teacher

How is the TM course structured?

The TM course follows an internationally fixed sequence that starts with a free introductory talk and then covers four course days. The first step is always a no-obligation information evening or introductory conversation, in which a certified TM teacher explains what TM is, how it works and what you can realistically expect.

Once you decide to take the course, the actual learning begins. On day 1 you receive personal one-to-one instruction: you are given your personal mantra and learn to apply the TM technique correctly. By the end of this session of 1 to 1.5 hours you can already meditate on your own at home.

On days 2, 3 and 4 there are follow-up meetings of about an hour and a half each. These cover your meditation experience, refine your technique and show you how to build TM into your daily life. After 10 and 20 days there are two further meetings to verify correct practice.

The course is also given in English: see which teachers teach in English and how it works for expats.

Steps to learn the TM technique

1

Learn how it works, the benefits and the course structure

Take the tour at your own pace to learn everything about the TM technique:

Or if you prefer:
2

Book the TM course

When you are ready to learn, book a TM course.

You can choose a TM centre near you (for example Amsterdam, Rotterdam or Maastricht and Valkenburg), a course at a time and date that fits your schedule, and the course format that suits you best: the in-person course or the hybrid course (a mix of in-person and online learning).

After booking you receive further information and are asked to schedule a preparatory conversation with your teacher. This can often be combined on the day of instruction.
3

Take the TM course

The TM course takes place over 4 consecutive days, each with a session of 1.5 to 2 hours. Day 1 is always personal instruction. On days 2, 3 and 4 your meditation is further refined and deepened.

A meeting after 10 days and after 20 days is part of the course, to verify correct practice and offer more knowledge.
4

Lifelong support

After completing the TM course you are independent and can practise TM anywhere, at any time. You always have access to ongoing guidance from any TM teacher in the Netherlands and in most countries worldwide.

You also get access to the TM app with a handy timer, videos, online TM events and more.

Read more about the follow-up programme.
Book a TM course

TM course Day 1: Personal instruction

The TM course always begins the same way: with a personal, customized, private session with a certified TM teacher. In this one-on-one lesson of 1 to 1.5 hours, you will receive your mantra and instructions on how to use it to meditate correctly. At the end of this session, you will be able to meditate independently at home.

Day 2-4 - Choose an option:

A

Personal course

The personal course offers you more interaction and engagement with your TM teacher and the benefit of a more structured schedule.

Each day during days 2, 3 and 4 of the personal course, you will attend meetings with your TM teacher and other new students. These meetings typically last between 1.5 and 2 hours.
B

Hybrid course

The hybrid course gives you the flexibility to learn at home, at your own pace, on your own schedule. There are two remote elements during Days 2-4:

  • Self-study where you review interactive content in the TM app, which takes about 6 hours. If you cannot complete it within four days, we ask that you complete it within 8 days.
  • An online meeting every day with your TM teacher and other new students.
Book a TM course

Complete beginner: learn in person or online?

You need no experience, and you don’t have to try mindfulness or an app first. On day 1 you learn Transcendental Meditation one-on-one from a certified TM teacher, and by the end of that session you can meditate on your own at home.

Torn between this course and an online course or an app? Look at who is watching. A beginner can’t yet tell whether something is going right and a recording can’t see it either, whereas a TM teacher corrects you on the spot and checks again after 10 and 20 days that you are doing it properly. Continuing from home is possible too: day 1 stays in person, and you then follow days 2 to 4 online.

The course fee is a one-off amount based on your income: €495 to €895, students €345, school students €245. Lifetime support is included. You start with a free introductory talk. All the options side by side, from MBSR to apps, are in our comparison for beginners.

Whether you take the personal or the hybrid course, you will learn:

  • How to know if you are meditating correctly
  • The workings of the TM technique
  • How to incorporate meditation into your life
  • What different experiences during TM practice mean and how to respond to them
  • What you can expect with regular practice

After the 4 days of learning, there are two additional sessions that are part of your course - the meeting after 10 and after 20 days. There your teacher confirms that you are meditating correctly, answers questions, informs you of further possibilities and leads a group meditation.

Support after the course

One important difference between TM and other programmes is the lifelong guidance included in the course fee. After your course you can always turn to any certified TM teacher worldwide for a personal checking or guidance, at no extra cost.

During the first six months after your course you can join free monthly group meetings. You also get access to the TM app with a meditation timer, instructional videos and online TM events. Optional advanced programmes are available for those who want to deepen their practice.

Every TM teacher in the Netherlands is listed in the public teacher register of Stichting Maharishi Vedisch Instituut, with training year and centres. Use it to check who is certified.

Ready to learn the TM technique?

The TM technique can only be learned from a certified TM teacher in a course carefully tailored to each individual.

 Book a TM course

Next step: What does the TM course cost?

Learn more about the TM course price, what is included in the course and the various payment options available.

 View the TM course price

Frequently asked questions about Transcendental Meditation

Everything you want to know about TM, from costs to scientific research.

Transcendental Meditation is a meditation technique introduced in the 1950s by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. You practice it twice a day for 20 minutes, sitting comfortably with your eyes closed.

During meditation, you use a personal mantra - a sound without meaning - that you repeat in your mind. This sound becomes progressively quieter, naturally quieting your mind and allowing you to experience a state of deep inner silence, also called "transcendence."

What makes TM unique is that it is completely effortless. You don't have to control your thoughts, you don't have to concentrate and you don't have to clear your head.

More than ten million people worldwide have learned TM.

The course fee is income-based so that TM remains accessible to all.

Gross monthly incomeTerm (In3/Klarna)One-time
Up to €2,0003 × €165€495
€2.000 - €3.0003 × €209€625
€3.000 - €4.0003 × €252€755
€4,000 and more3 × €299€895
Special RateTermOne-time
Partners1,5× above1.5× above
Full-time students3 × €115€345
Secondary school students3 × €82€245
Children up to 10 years25% of parental tariff25% of parental fee
Private course3 × €432€1.295

The course fee includes:

  • Personal one-on-one instruction by a certified TM teacher
  • Three follow-up meetings to verify your technique
  • Free monthly group meetings for the first six months
  • Lifelong guidance from any TM teacher worldwide

TM is taught in many places in the Netherlands. Certified TM teachers teach in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Eindhoven, Groningen, Arnhem, Maastricht and many other cities.

The first step is to attend a free introductory lecture. Check tm.nl/lectures to see which teacher and location is closest to you.

In mindfulness, you consciously focus your attention on the present moment. In TM, you use a personal mantra that guides your mind to stillness in a completely effortless way.

Brain activity: TM leads to coherence throughout the cerebral cortex. Mindfulness mainly activates areas related to attention and self-regulation.

Both techniques have their value. The main difference is that TM works with the mind's natural tendency, while mindfulness actively directs the mind.

The course consists of four meetings on consecutive days. Day 1: Personal one-on-one instruction (1-1.5 hours). Days 2, 3 and 4: Follow-up meetings in small groups (about an hour and a half each).

After these four days you will be able to practice TM completely independently at home.

Yes. More than 800 studies (of which 400+ peer-reviewed) have been published, conducted at more than 200 universities worldwide.

The 2025 US guideline on high blood pressure names TM as the only meditation technique by name, as a possible adjunct for elevated blood pressure. The NIH has invested more than $26 million in TM research.

No, TM can only be learned through personal instruction by a certified TM teacher. An experienced teacher can tailor the technique to your personal situation.

After four days of training, you can practice the technique completely independently - for a lifetime. And you can always visit any certified TM teacher worldwide at no extra cost.

Day 1 (personal instruction) is identical in both. The difference is in days 2–4:

In-person course: You attend daily meetings at the TM centre with your teacher and fellow participants (1.5–2 hours per day).

Hybrid course: You combine self-study through the TM app (about 6 hours in total) with daily online meetings with your teacher.

After the course you receive lifelong guidance from any TM teacher worldwide, at no extra cost. This includes: meetings after 10 and 20 days, six months of free group meetings, access to the TM app, and the option to request a personal checking at any time.

Read more about the follow-up programme.

A free introductory talk is the recommended first step. During this talk of about 1 hour you learn what TM is, how it works and what you can expect from it. The talk carries no obligation.

See which talk is nearest to you at tm.nl/en/find-a-tm-teacher.

We recommend Transcendental Meditation, and of course we are not neutral on this. TM takes no concentration, you learn it one-on-one, and from day one you meditate twice a day for twenty minutes. MBSR is the best-known alternative: eight weeks in a group, with three quarters of an hour to an hour of practice at home each day. An app is the easiest to try, but nobody is watching over your practice. All the options side by side are in our comparison for beginners.

Still have questions? Attend a free introductory lecture.

Completely free of charge, even if you're just curious.

 Find a lecture near you