Are you stressed out? Do you worry about your physical health? Your mental health? Your spiritual health? Do you wish you had less stress and anxiety in your life and more peace and harmony?

Well, I felt all of these things a few years ago and I thought I was going to go crazy or die. I was working 10-12 hours a day, 6 days a week at a very stressful job. I had a wife and two kids at home who wanted, and deserved, my time and attention. I had a mortgage, two car notes, tuition, medical bills, overdue taxes, and credit card debt coming out of my ears!

I was running nonstop through my days trying to take care of everything and make everybody happy but I never had enough time to take care of myself. In bed at night, my heart would pound from stress and anxiety. I worried about my job, my marriage, the kids, the bills, the house, my heath, and even my sanity.

My health was of particular concern. I felt tired all the time. I was gaining weight. My back was always hurting. Climbing even one flight of stairs left me breathless and dizzy. I felt like I was falling apart physically, mentally, and spiritually.

I was really worried about myself but I didnt know what to do. I tried the gym, several fad diets, home exercise machines, and even time management programs. I had about the same results with each new thing I tried. They all seemed to help at first, but I just couldnt stick with any of them for very long. I now realize that they didnt work because they were all short term fixes to a long term problem. I had to change my life.

I knew I had a lot to learn, but I couldnt afford to buy a bunch of books and everything at the library seemed to be outdated. So I made a habit of stopping at the local Barns and Noble on the way home from work each day. I read everything I could find on stress, anxiety, health, diet, and self-improvement. I felt like a cheat just sitting there reading the books without buying them but nobody seemed to mind. I usually bought a cup of coffee or tea just to ease my conscience a little.

I read a lot of great books with wonderful insights on improving ones life. Not surprisingly, one subject came up over and over; meditation. I had tried to meditate several years earlier but had gotten frustrated and quit before really giving it a chance. But, I was desperate and determined to try anything that might help.

One book in particular said, Start right now! I was too embarrassed to sit in the book store and meditate, but I didnt want to waste another moment. So I went out to my car, adjusted the seat into a comfortable position, set my watch alarm for 30 minutes, then closed my eyes and started counting my breaths.

That turned out to be a defining moment in my life. Of course, I didnt have instant success. Mediation takes practice and can be very difficult at times. But making the decision to incorporate meditation into my everyday life changed everything for me.

I continued to stop at the book store each night for a while and split my time between reading and meditating. Nothing else had changed in my life. I still had a stressful job, my marriage, my kids, my house, and bills but, somehow, I was feeling betterless stressedeven more energetic!

No, it didnt magically solve all of the woes in my life. But once I started feeling more relaxed and less stressed, I was better able to focus on the other things I needed to do to become mentally, physically, and spiritually healthy.

I soon started a daily meditation practice at home. I also began a reasonable exercise plan that included walking, a light workout, and yoga. These things combined with eating right most of the time, have literally changed my life. Im now happier, healthier, and at peace with the world around me.

I hope this story inspires some of you to take that first step and begin incorporating meditation into your own life. This is the perfect time to make the decision. What better New Years resolution than to change your life for the better? There are numerous meditation methods and practices out there and a myriad of resources available to you in book stores and on the web. Im sure you can find something that works for you.

In fact, Ive compiled a host of information on mediation, relaxation, yoga, and other related subjects at my website . I would also be very happy to share my own experience. Please dont hesitate to contact me at if you have any questions or comments.

In peace,

Mike Suzuki

Addiction is a brutal development regardless of the vice. Addiction retreats offer unique treatment programs that are helping addicts recover.

Addiction Retreats

A new weapon in the battle against addiction has emerged recently. Instead of just working through a 12-step program, or being helped medically, a number of people who are having problems with addiction have chosen a different route. Addiction retreats have popped up in several areas of the United States, taking a new approach to helping those who have addictions to substances and other addictive behaviors.

One of the new addiction retreats that has started recently is the Essence Recovery Center, located in Asheville, North Carolina. This retreat offers an all-inclusive vacation-like feel, all while helping you to work through your problems with addiction. There are therapy sessions, which include individual “talk” therapy, as well as music and art therapy. They also offer massage therapy and acupuncture, which help to detoxify your body. Meditation, 12-step group programs, sauna and whirlpools, and even spa cuisine help to round out this holistic spa retreat. Week long programs and 28 day programs are available, and the spa is careful to point out that you should get your doctor’s approval before starting this program, as it is not a medical program.

One of the addiction retreats located outside of the US is the Soukya Holistic Health Center in Bangalore, India. This retreat is one that combines many different health approaches, such as Ayurveda, homeopathy, naturopathy, acupuncture and Western allopathic medicine, in order to help people beat their addictions. With their approach including counseling, homeopathic remedies, relaxation techniques and more, they have earned the praise of people such as Dr. Deepak Chopra, a well-known doctor and philosopher from here in the US. Bangalore is known for having many English speaking residents and is a city that is often visited by US and British citizens. As with all programs, your doctor should be consulted before you start or book your stay.

This new group of addiction retreats is sure to grow as more people discover the healing benefits of total body cleansing and relaxation. Whether you are in need of a long stay or just a short trip to rejuvenate your mind and spirit, these retreat centers offer more than just the usual massages and facials found at most other spas. They offer a new way of life and a new way of thinking, along with the luxury of a spa atmosphere.

Addiction is a scary thing and breaking it is a difficult task. Addiction retreats offer people the ability and time to break the addiction curse.

Si te mudas a otro pas o ciudad, sea cual fuera la razn, trabajo, situacin econmica, familia, novio, novia, cambio de aire; todas las razones llegan a ser insuficientes pero necesarias a la hora de adaptarse.

Adaptarse a una nueva cultura, idioma, ambiente, clima, reglas sociales, y estilo de vida es muy duro y al mismo tiempo interesante. En mi caso personal, cuando me mude de pas fue porque mi familia lo decidi hacer, no segu mis necesidades ya que era demasiado chica para seguir mi propio camino y demasiado grande para depender de sus decisiones. Sin embargo segu las decisiones de mi familia.

Al principio de mi llegada, decid tomarme todo fcilmente como si fuera irreal, ya que era muy duro enfrentar la realidad de que me aleje de mi vida, que deje todo lo que tenia atrs.

Decid entonces que todo seria una gran vacacin. Junto con el clima era caluroso, viva cerca de la playa lo cual en mi pas no lo tena entonces mi vida seria un cuento total. A lo largo de los meses, no hacia mas nada que salir, comprar, conocer gente y divertirme sin ningn propsito de lo que iba a pasar en mi futuro.

Luego de unos meses conoc a un chico que crea que cumpla con todas mis expectativas de hombre ideal. Popular, atractivo, simptico, deportista y dems. Comenzamos a salir y crea que era el sueo de mi vida hecho realidad, Qu poda ser mas perfecto que eso?

La realidad me cayo de golpe cuando me di cuenta que nada de lo que crea tan perfecto era as, sino una idealizacin de eso. Mi plata se me iba disminuyendo poco a poco, el novio perfecto no eran perfecto ni mucho menos sino que solo quera demostrarlo ser, y traa consigo ms complicaciones y dilemas que me llevaran a sufrir en la relacin. Mis alrededores no me satisfacan como yo pensaba que iban a hacerlo, pero decid que deba intentarlo igual ya que todo pareca perfecto y no lo quera arruinar.

Luego vino el invierno y comenc lo que haba planeado antes de mi llegada estudiar moda y convertirme en una sper diseadora. Sin embargo me encontr con un lugar lleno de gente que crea ser demasiado rara y competitiva, sin nada de ganas de socializar ni conocer a alguien nuevo. La presin de ser aceptado a la escuela de arte y ganar la simpata de los profesores era mayor que otra cosa.

Me encontr en situaciones difciles como en una clase de moldes, tratando de hacer una pollera que me llevara hacer un da entero solo el molde. Ah me di cuenta que lo que necesitaba era estudiar en un idioma que me era cmodo, con gente parecida a mi con ganas de disfrutar la poca universitaria y aprender pero con un propsito mas profundo que llenara mi alma.

Luego de un tiempo pens y pens que todo lo que crea necesario para mi felicidad en realidad no me satisfaca y no entenda mis sentimientos y descontento. Mi familia tampoco lo entenda. La verdad es que hay gente que sabe encontrar lo que busca ms fcil que otra. Pueden seguir su propio instinto sin importar lo que dirn los dems, si aceptan o no. Hay otra, que les es ms difcil y necesitan demostrar a los dems que logran lo que se proponen, sin saber si realmente lo desean.

En fin, mudarse de pas es algo muy complicado que tambin tiene cosas positivas. Ayuda a abrir la cabeza y darse cuenta que uno no esta solo, que hay mucha gente diferente aparte de lo que uno crea nico, que las culturas son diferentes y parecidas en muchos aspectos, que a pesar de que uno intente adaptarse a algo nuevo, en el fondo es importante mantener nuestra identidad. Debes seguir tus sentimientos siempre, porque tu solo sabes lo que es bueno para ti.