BoomerGirl Diary

Who among us doesn't love Dr. Mehmet Oz and his adorable sidekick, Dr. Michael Roizen? Between the two of them, they can turn an Oprah show into the biology class you WISH you would have had in high school. Now, as if answering my personal plea, they've come up with a CD to help me breathe, meditate and relax.

I've been meaning to learn how to meditate. Really, I have. For years, I've been threatening to sign up for transcendental meditation, biofeedback (which I know isn't the same thing) or any kind of generic meditation training that would help lower my blood pressure and calm my "monkey mind" (a Buddhist term meaning "unsettled; restless; capricious; whimsical; fanciful; inconstant; confused; indecisive; uncontrollable" - not conducive to meditation or staying on task.) But, for whatever reason, I never did - choosing, instead, to purchase a few tapes or DVDs which I used once or twice, then forgot about.

So it was with great joy and anticipation that I agreed to review a 2-CD set called "You: Breathing Easy", the latest entry in the docs' "You..." franchise. The CDs offered "meditation and breathing techniques to help relax, refresh and revitalize." Sounded great to me.

I downloaded CD #1 and started listening, eagerly anticipating some much-needed guided meditation. Little did I realize it would be well into CD #2 - around the 12th track - when the breathing and meditation exercises would actually begin. The rest of the tracks are filled with Drs Oz and Roizen talking about the importance of breathing, increasing our lung capacity, getting enough sleep and general tips for better health. Good information, but not what I was expecting.

The long-awaited exercises were good, however. Dr. Oz's wife, Lisa, gets into the act and her voice is easy on the ears. After 25 minutes of stretching, breathing and meditating, I did feel revitalized and a bit more relaxed, but it sure was a long road getting there.

I still adore the darling doctors but I wish "You: Breathing Easy" had one CD devoted exclusively to the breathing and meditation exercises for more convenient use. As it is, I'm afraid these disks might find its way to my meditation tape slush pile.

For more on Oz and Roizen's products, and to take the "Real Age" test, go to RealAge.com.