Transcendental Meditation is catching on big in the business of finance as successful Wall Street managers and traders have taken up the practice, many of them having been inspired by hedge fund manager Ray Dalio's daily meditation habit.

For Mark Axelowitz, managing director at UBS Wealth Management, the first step to become a meditator was reading Dalio's "Principles." Axelowitz was reading up on Dalio before he called to ask him if he'd like to speak at his and Bill Ackman's annual fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Harbor foundation. Early in "Principles," Dalio writes about how he discovered meditation in college after seeing that The Beatles did it. "It helped me think more clearly and creatively, so I'm sure that enhanced my enjoyment of, and success at, learning," Dalio wrote.

"The second I read that I decided: I'm done - I'm meditating," Axelowitz said.

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"I had at the time a Blackberry and an iPhone, and my life was nonstop work," Axelowitz said. He said he's awake 18 hours a day, and that his time is split among his Wall Street job, philanthropy, his side job as an actor (he's had numerous bit parts in big productions since 2004), and his three kids. "And I knew that if TM did not work, it gave me 40 minutes of downtime, with no interruption."

But he found that it profoundly affected him. He said that since making TM a daily habit, he has been able to have a clearer mind, which has allowed him to be more present in both his professional and personal lives. He also believes this regular training of his mind has allowed him to be more creative, which has allowed him to take on more significant and enjoyable acting gigs.

Featured video: UBS Financial Services broker Ken Gunsberger who is included in the article.