In February 1968, the Beatles travelled to Rishikesh, in northern India, to attend an advanced Transcendental Meditation (TM) training session at the ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Amid widespread media attention, their visit was one of the band's most productive periods. Their interest in the Maharishi changed Western attitudes about Indian spirituality and encouraged the study of Transcendental Meditation. They first met the Maharishi in London in August 1967 and then attended a seminar in Bangor, Wales. The Beatles had planned to attend the entire ten-day session, but their stay was cut short by the death of their manager, Brian Epstein.