There’s no denying meditation has countless health benefits like enhancing self awareness, reducing stress and controlling anxiety —hence why Cameron Diaz is fond of the practice. Despite initially feeling incapable of letting go of her thoughts for a long period of time, the actress revealed she discovered and fell in love with transcendental meditation because of its ease. “I learned TM — the Transcendental Meditation technique — and it was exactly what I needed! The thing that blew me away the most about it was that it was the easiest thing I’ve ever done. Not the easiest meditation, but the easiest thing I have ever learned. And I learn a lot of things, you know; that’s my job,” Cameron said in an interview with David Lynch Foundation executive director Bob Roth.

She added: “TM is helping you tap into something already inside of you — that’s you, in essence. That’s something that I think was super empowering for me once I grasped that. It’s not something that you do, go outside of yourself to obtain and then bring back to you, it’s actually the deepest part of you. It’s part of you that exists that you’ve never had the tool of opening and accessing.”

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What is this magical meditation technique Cameron can’t stop raving about? Scroll through to learn more about Transcendental Meditation.

What is it?

Transcendental Meditation also known as TM is a meditation practice that involved the used of mantras. Developed by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the ’60s, the meditation is practiced for 20 minutes twice a day. One must sit comfortably with his or her eyes shut, without any special position, and silently repeat a mantra.

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The Bad Teacher star is not the only fan who practices TM. Big Little Lies star Laura Dern recently revealed she uses transcendental meditation to help ease her anxiety during COVID-19 lockdown. Oprah Winfrey, Russell Wilson and Lena Dunham are also advocates of the meditation practice.

Benefits 

While all mediations give your body a feeling of instant calmness, TM has several long-term benefits. A study founded by the National Institutes of Health found that people who practice transcendental meditation reduce the risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke by 48%. Another study found that the meditation practice helped prisoners reduce stress and experience fewer mental health issues like depression.

PLUS: Everything you need to know about post-lockdown anxiety

Where to learn TM?

If you’re interesting in trying TM yourself, the meditation practice is taught through a seven-step course in a six day period. The technique is done with a certified teacher who is available for private and group lessons. Find out more here.