On Tuesday, October 8, at the Paley Center for Media in New York City, a standing-room-only crowd of 350 professionals gathered to hear ten women leaders in business, media, education and social services discuss the impact of their Transcendental Meditation practice for reducing stress and stress-related disorders while improving health, creativity and performance.

The conference also highlighted the work of the David Lynch Foundation’s Women’s Initiative in bringing relief to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

“Funds raised from the conference are being used to provide the TM technique to hundreds of women and girls served by the Family Justice Centers in New York City,” said Britten Chroman, Director of the David Lynch Foundation’s Women’s Initiative.

Panelist remarks:

“There are tens of thousands of women and children in the U.S. who are victims of violence and abuse. The Women’s Initiative gives these women and children the evidence-based tool of TM to find relief and peace within.”
–Candy Crowley, Host of CNN’s State of the Union with Candy Crowley

TM gives me the space to dream and create. Anxiety has always been a constant issue for me and meditation acts as a guard, a sedative, a powerful antidote to darkness, anger and unproductive thinking.”
–Lena Dunham, Emmy award-winning filmmaker and actress

“Transcendental Meditation has empowered me in all aspects of my life. I make more conscious decisions with a deeper perspective and more balanced approach. It has enhanced my natural strengths and improved areas of weakness.”
–Rehana Farrell, CAO at Guggenheim Partners

“I have seen first hand the transformative effect of TM on the lives of domestic violence survivors and their children. It can be a powerful tool to begin the healing process for victims and their children.”
–Yolanda B. Jimenez, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence

“Early outcomes indicate that learning TM will help survivors of domestic violence recover from abuse they have experienced, as well as assisting them to more effectively utilize the numerous services available through the Family Justice Center.” –Carol Kurzig, President of the Avon Foundation for Women

“We try to do it all. It’s time to learn how to ‘check in’—inwardly. Peace, enhanced creativity, and higher levels of integrated thinking are all gifts awaiting women who experience TM.”
–Pamela Peeke, MD, MPH, FACP, Chief Medical Correspondent for Discovery Health TV

“Doing TM for 40 minutes each day gives us the calm and focus we need to deal with our crazy, busy, hectic lives. TM has changed the pace of my life and given me incredible focus and a sense of wellbeing.”
–Lesley Seymour, Editor-in-Chief, More magazine