Slow down, so your body can catch up
English
You have not properly stopped in a long time.
You rest, but you do not feel rested. Your mind keeps going even when the day is done. Your body needs a proper break.
These few days are about giving your body the rest it has been missing.
It starts with Transcendental Meditation. Twice a day, twenty minutes, your mind gets quiet on its own and your body drops into a rest different from sleep, the kind it needs to repair itself.
Around that, the days are built for recovery: a digital detox, so the input finally stops. Ayurveda, with tips on food and daily routine. Time in nature, good sleep, and quiet.
For a lot of people, the hardest part is letting themselves stop. If you are used to putting others first, taking time for yourself can feel selfish. It is not. Part of the retreat is about finding that balance, so you can look after yourself and everyone else without running yourself down.
You go home properly rested, with a simple practice you keep for life.
Not sure yet? Start with a free online session on 10 September or 16 September.
Hubert Hol is a Transcendental Meditation teacher based in the Netherlands. At Maharishi European Research University in Vlodrop, he coordinates the in-residence courses. With a deep dedication to Maharishi’s knowledge, he strives to live and share a consciousness-based way of life.
Tegan Jung is a certified teacher of Transcendental Meditation. Her meditation journey started at the age of 5 when her father taught her a children’s technique. She has served two years as Director of the Chicago TM Center. Tegan has a degree in Sustainable Living and is currently the Co-Director of MERU Academy.
Transcendental Meditation is a simple technique. You practise it sitting comfortably with your eyes closed, twenty minutes twice a day. It is not like most other kinds of meditation: there is no concentrating, no clearing your mind, and no trying to stay in the present. The mind settles down on its own, into a deep rest, while you stay awake and clear.
It is easy to learn, and it works for complete beginners. Millions of people of every age and background have learned it. If you can think, you can do it.
Transcendental Meditation is the most researched meditation technique there is, with hundreds of published studies over the last fifty years. People who practise it regularly often notice:
The research is strong. Studies show lower cortisol, the main stress hormone, along with less anxiety, better sleep, and support for heart health. Transcendental Meditation is the only meditation technique named in American Heart Association guidelines for lowering blood pressure. These are general patterns across many people, and what any one person notices can vary.
If you like to understand the how and why, the practice sits on decades of published work, much of it led by Dr Tony Nader, a neuroscientist trained at Harvard and MIT. His podcast, Depth Over Noise, is a good place to start.
This retreat is for you if:
You do not need any experience. Only a wish to slow down and learn.
If you would like a consultation or treatment at the Maharishi Ayurveda Health Centre, on site at MERU, you can add these when you apply. The premium package already includes them.
Please bring comfortable clothing for meditation and for Yoga practice. Also:
MERU is a residential community in the Meinweg National Park in Vlodrop, the Netherlands. It is the international headquarters of the Transcendental Meditation organisation, with buildings designed according to Maharishi Vastu architecture, set in nature. It was the home, for 18 years, of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who brought Transcendental Meditation to the world. It offers a peaceful setting for rest and learning, welcoming people from around the world.
MERU, Station 24, 6063 NP Vlodrop, The Netherlands
Email: events@meru.internationalmadai
Phone: +31 475 53 8552
Give yourself a few days to stop. Come to MERU, learn Transcendental Meditation, and go home properly rested, with a simple practice you keep for life.
No accommodation,
meals included
Stay at MERU
Stay at MERU and enjoy wellness & personal care
Participation in the course / retreat / event
Organic vegetarian meals
Accommodation in a Vastu room or suite – single or shared occupancy
Welcome basket with Maharishi Ayurveda & VedAroma products
10% discount on Vaidya consultation (pulse reading), Abhyanga, Shirodara, Marma Therapy, Maharishi Light Therapy with Gems and Maharishi Aroma Therapy, Vedaroma and Ayurveda products during this retreat
One Vaidya consultation (pulse reading) with personal health advice, one Maharishi Ayurveda Marma Therapy, one Maharishi Light Therapy with Gems as well as 10% discount on all additional Ayurveda treatments during this retreat
Private airport transfer (Eind-hoven or Düsseldorf) as well as a personal host for coordi-nation and support
Early check-in or late checkout (subject to availability).
– Essential package –
No accommodation,
meals included
– Most popular –
Stay at MERU
– Limited availability –
Stay at MERU and enjoy wellness & personal care
– Essential package –
– Most popular –
– Limited availability –
MERU is located in Vlodrop, Station 24, The Netherlands, close to Düsseldorf Airport in Germany, as well as Eindhoven and Maastricht Aachen Airport in The Netherlands.
You can find detailed travel guidance, including recommended routes and transport options, on our travel information page. If you would like assistance with transport from the airport or train station, our MERU Travel Office at travel@meru.international will be happy to help arrange this.
For most in-residence courses, we recommend arriving a few hours before the course begins. The course start and end times are listed at the top of the page under the course title. Exact arrival and departure details will be shared after application.
Each course has its own rhythm, but in general the days are structured and immersive.
You can expect a balanced flow of knowledge sessions, morning and afternoon group programme, meals, and time to rest. The atmosphere is focused, yet relaxed.
Exact daily timings vary depending on the specific course. A detailed schedule is shared upon arrival.
All accommodation at MERU is built according to Maharishi Vastu architecture, designed to support rest, balance, and well-being in harmony with natural law. The rooms are located in a peaceful forest setting within the MERU campus.
You can choose between a single or double room. A detailed price breakdown is available in the application form. If you would like to share a room, you are welcome to book together with someone you know.
Each room includes a private bathroom. Bedding, towels, and basic toiletries are provided. Organic Ayurvedic vegetarian meals are served in the dining hall during your stay.
You can read more about accommodation here.
We understand that plans can change. Our standard cancellation and refund policy applies to all bookings. You can find full details here in Terms & Conditions.
Have a personal call or a chat.
Before you arrive, you’ll have a one-to-one with your teacher – a chance to ask anything, share what you’re looking for, and shape your retreat around you.
Start your application now and we look forward to welcoming you to MERU for a nervous system reset, backed by decades of research.
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