What is Transcendental Meditation?

The owner of Gellis Investment Management in Los Angeles, California, Entrepreneur and Wellness Guru Henry Gellis also contributes to the planning and upkeep of Awaken.com, a news site for positive media and healthy living. With a passion for wellness, Henry Gellis practices meditation in his spare time. Though there are many different types of meditation, one of the most popular techniques is transcendental meditation, which offers many positive side effects.

Brought to the United States from India in the 1960s, transcendental meditation instructs a person to sit comfortably with their eyes closed, while repeating a word or sound called a "mantra". This technique improves concentration and quiets the mind, giving the practitioner a feeling of rest, stillness, and stability. While some other types of meditation ask the practitioner to focus on something specific, transcendental meditation seeks to empty the mind and enter a state of "restful alertness".

Practicing meditation on a regular basis has been shown to reduce anxiety, chronic pain, cholesterol, 
and high blood pressure. The common practice requires that you meditate twice a day for twenty minutes to be the most effective.