Meditation teacher Bob Roth (@meditationbob), who serves as the executive director of the David Lynch Foundation, learned Transcendental Meditation in 1968 while a freshman at the University of California at Berkeley.

To draw from his rich experience, freelance writer Cathy Margel sits down with Roth for a lenghty interview to discuss the healing effects of Transcendental Meditation, and how and why it works so well.

Can you explain how TM lowers cortisol levels and what does that mean to someone with high anxiety?

Cortisol is a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands (which sit atop the kidneys) and has been called the "stress hormone." There are high levels of cortisol when we are stressed, fearful or anxious. And it becomes a vicious cycle. High levels of cortisol fuel high levels of anxiety, which then spur the adrenals to secrete more cortisol, so then we feel even more anxious. The whole process becomes a vicious cycle—and can even lead to a panic attack. A good night's sleep may drop cortisol levels by 10% to 12% but 20 minutes of TM reduces cortisol levels by 30% to 40%. TM is not magic. We are just accessing a mechanism in the nervous system to take profound rest at will. That allows the body to reset, or "reboot" itself. As a result, we are naturally far less anxious and tense and far calmer and happier inside throughout the day—and sleep much better at night.

Image credit: Cropped portrait of Bob by Cathy Margel.