LA journalist reflects on growing up as a TM kid in 'Greetings from Utopia Park'

L.A.-based journalist Claire Hoffman spent much of her childhood in a Transcendental Meditation community. She shares more in her new book, 'Greetings from Utopia Park.'

These days, the practice of meditation is everywhere. It's the the subject of TED Talks, it's taught in kindergarten classrooms, and apps to help you meditate abound.

But how did this ancient Eastern practice become so popular here in the West? Many credit an Indian guru named Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who brought Transcendental Meditation, or TM, to the U.S. in the 1960s.

Maharishi quickly won over followers throughout the country, but the most devoted of them wound up in Fairfield, Iowa.

That's where L.A.-based journalist Claire Hoffman spent much of her childhood. Her life there and her struggles with faith in Maharishi and meditation is the subject of her new book, "Greetings From Utopia Park: Surviving a Transcendent Childhood."

She joined host Alex Cohen to share more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB-oNU1tTx0

To listen to the full interview, click on the blue audio player above.