Meditation Music for
Everyone

You're as likely to pick up a meditation CD as you are to purchase Paris Hilton's debut album--even if it's in the discount bin. As in no way. But research shows that just a few minutes of meditation a day can decrease anxiety and depression, boost your immune system, and improve brain-wave activity (read: make you smarter). Whether you're looking for a new method of stress relief or are seeking solace from whatever is bombarding you, this long-standing Eastern practice is a sure thing once you get the hang of it. We've compiled six of the best CDs out there to suit different needs and personalities.

FOR THE BEGINNER Jack Kornfield's Buddhist Meditation for Beginners

Learning meditation from Kornfield is like having Lance Armstrong teach you how to ride a bike. He's a Buddhist monk but also an American psychologist, so he gets that most of us can barely sit through a movie. Kornfield guides you through four meditation styles on this six-CD set.

FOR THE SKEPTIC Rare Elements by Ustad Sultan Khan

If the only meditating you'll ever do is over a martini, try this eclectic mix featuring Eastern chanting and modern, loungy beats. Though it's far from a traditional meditation, the music provides a nice alternative to the Coldplay CD you usually listen to during the commute home.

FOR THE CUBE-DWELLER Chanting Om: Music for Deep Meditation

This disc plays more than an hour of Om, chanted by a group of 12 meditators. Might sound a little tedious, but anyone who works long hours can appreciate the soothing lull--when played at a low volume (and of course with earbuds on) it can encourage productivity, or at least tune out the distracting voices of neighboring cubemates.

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