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I wrote a memoir about a fidgety, skeptical newsman who reluctantly becomes a meditator and in the process of publishing it, I occasionally, to my embarrassment, found myself failing to practice what I preach. I was kind of like a dog that soils the rug, and the universe kept shoving my face into it.

For those of you considering a New Years meditation resolution, but who are held back by the thought, I could never meditate, Im here to tell you Im no avatar of perfection myself. But thats the point.

In a funny way, my missteps only reinforced my conviction in the practice, as well as the changes it can produce in your life.

But lets go over the embarrassing stuff first.

The bungling of my own advice began even before the book came out. One of my main arguments in 10% Happier is that meditation despite its unfortunate association with people who use the word Namaste un-ironically, and who are prone to grandiose claims about spiritual awakening can make ambitious people even more effective, by helping draw the line between constructive anguish and pointless rumination. And yet, in the weeks before publication, I nearly made myself sick with counterproductive worry.

Watch the full story on ABC News' "Nightline" TONIGHT at 12:35 a.m. ET.

My biggest fear, other than that the book royally sucked, was that I was revealing details about my personal life that would torpedo my career. I wrote about how I had covered wars for ABC News, gotten depressed, self-medicated with recreational drugs, and had a panic attack on television all of which, combined with some other strange developments, ultimately led me to meditation.

Panic Attack on Live Television

Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images

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How Writing a Meditation Book Threw My Own Advice Right Back in My Face

As Alberta residents slip and slide through another winter, commuting on icy roads, dealing with daily pressures of employment, rising costs and an uncertain economy, the importance of holistic health takes on an even higher priority.

Alicia Jerome, who is now offering guided meditation at the Peter Lougheed Community Centre, wants to help others learn and appreciate the benefits of this form of stress relief.

Everybody is stressed. Everybody has so much on their plate. Guided meditation helps people to stop and be still and focus on their breath.

The primary objective of guided meditation is to learn how to relax. People who participate in the practice are encouraged to find a focus point in the body and begin to relax that part. While staying focused, all the muscles are encouraged to relax and, finally, the mind is able to let go of stressful thoughts and relax as well.

You just need to focus on your breath and be still.

Jerome said as a general rule people are so busy and when they join a guided meditation class and allow themselves to simply relax they may find themselves falling asleep.

I encourage that, if you feel the need to fall asleep, you probably need to. We need to bring back the nap. Remember when you were a kid and the freedom of just taking the time to lay down in the grass and stare up at the sky. Nobody has to teach meditation to kids, they already know how to do it. But for adults, meditation gives you the opportunity to experience that freedom again.

Jerome said she first began meditating when she was 18-years-old and was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. Meditation helped her find a balance, relieve stress and, it seemed that when she was able to let go of her worries through guided meditation, her symptoms disappeared.

Jerome, who is a councillor and yoga instructor, began offering classes at the community centre through Rimbey recreation department earlier this month. Classes are held upstairs from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays.

It is much easier to practice guided meditation with a group of people, she said.

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Guided meditation classes now offered at Peter Lougheed Community Centre