Breathing has an impact on the heart and brain. We usually don’t pay attention to our physical responses until anxiety, agitation, or a sleep disorder becomes part of our life, only to begin steps towards mindfulness and shallow breathing. What should be part of our normal life starts as a habit. Today we know this as meditation: a process of reducing external stimuli to be aware of internal processes such as breathing and physical presence. Mediation can take many forms; an essential part is to begin. At La Jolla Recovery, we offer meditation as part of our eastern approach to healing drug and alcohol addiction.