Ohm. When you think of meditation, maybe you imagine a peaceful monk sitting cross-legged in a temple somewhere in Asia.

Meditation is something everyone can benefit from and you don’t have to study for years to achieve the state of calm and nothingness to your path to Nirvana to understand its value. Meditation requires mental discipline and the practice is all part of the journey. There are dozens of types of meditation and several ways to practice, but the roads all lead to the same place - tranquility, clarity and focus. If you have ever noticed a professional athlete before a big game, you often find them in a sort of laser-focused daze; even that is a form of meditation.

The benefits of meditation affect mind, body and soul. Mentally, meditation increases serotonin levels, which make up feel happy and balanced. It decreases anxiety and stress, allowing us to open our minds to positive things. Depression is often lessened and even the most stressful situations are more easily tolerated by those who practice meditation regularly. Physically, meditation has been known to decrease blood pressure, increase oxygen flow, relieve muscle tension and improve sleep and the immune system. Many people who meditate experience an “inner peace” and understanding of the world around them, as well as a heightened awareness of inner self.

Many of us are guilty of walking right past the office water cooler and heading straight for the soda machine. This is especially true when we need that mid-afternoon pick-me-up to help us cross the finish line. With so many choices these days from fancy coffee to flavored sodas to energy drinks that promise the world in a can, it’s easy to pass up something as simple as water.

Unfortunately most of the drinks we are drawn to are loaded with sugar, caffeine and calories and fail to offer any health benefits. So maybe it’s time to rethink our choice of beverage and get back to the basics. Water is, after all, the most essential substance on the planet.

Nearly a billion people around the world live without constant access to clean, safe drinking water, yet we too easily take it for granted here in the United States. It’s a necessity that we can’t live without yet many of us take in too little. We need to be reminded of the importance of water and become more conscious of how much our life depends on it.

Many of us may pay a high price for our computer and video game obsessions. Just about everyone who is breathing either types or sends text messages consistently throughout the day for either personal or professional reasons. These repetitive motions that are hard to avoid come with consequences that you may not have thought about.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, which is also known as a repetitive trauma disorder, is pain or numbness caused by compression in the median nerve. The median nerve runs from your forearm to your palm. You could, however, experience a burning or tingling sensation as high up as your shoulder. Some people find that the pain will come and go at random times while others find it to be more persistent. In severe cases, the hand muscles can actually stop working.

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