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.

FOR THE MYSTIC Invocation by Ty Burhoe

When you're new to meditation, Sanskrit mantras sound as accessible as doing an inverted Lotus handstand your first time on the mat. But Invocation is actually as attainable as Child's pose. Featuring beautiful vocals and classical instruments, the tracks range from orchestral to quiet and contemplative. The music stirs up the same feeling you might get seeing Pink Floyd in concert: Wow.

FOR THE HOMEBODY Yoga Meditations Collection
In this three-disc set, doyennes Beryl Bender Birch, Cyndi Lee, and Gael Chiarella guide you through relaxing meditation techniques--including breathing and muscle tension release--perfect for unwinding after home-based Hatha or just before bed.

FOR THE ADVENTUROUS Chakra Balancing: Body, Mind, and Soul by Deepak Chopra

If you have even an ounce of curiosity about chakras (that's Sanskrit for the energy centers in the body), then give these discs a spin. The first has 11 tracks of soothing music. On the second, Chopra explains the seven chakras. Even if the meditation doesn't floor you, it'll inspire you to live more consciously.