New Ways to Meditate

Many of the traditional ways to meditate that have been passed down over hundreds (or even thousands) of years take some real effort to master. The lotus position, for example, is difficult for many people - and just plain uncomfortable for most of us. Then there are walking meditations, ones that require concentration on an object, mindfulness practices, and many other techniques.

In addition to those more traditional options, there are now entirely new ways to meditate. They are easier and in some ways more interesting. They have come about thanks to two new technological advancements. The first is brainwave entrainment using binaural beats.

Humans noticed for thousands of years that music could be relaxing - if it was of the right type. A few decades ago it was determined that some pieces of music were more directly conducive to a meditative state of consciousness beyond simple relaxation. These pieces actually slowed the listeners brainwaves down from the Beta range of fourteen to thirty hertz to the Alpha range of eight to fourteen hertz (cycles-per-second). The "alpha state" is the first stage of sleep we go through each evening, a state of relaxed alertness, and is also the state of consciousness achieved when we meditate for a few minutes.

Before long the idea of purposely engineering a recording to have this effect was attempted. Two tracks were embedded with pulses and beats, so when listened to with stereo headphones a third or "binaural beat" would be created in the brain. That slowed the primary brainwave pattern of the listener. Such recordings are common now, and typically use music or sounds of nature for the background, so you don't notice the beats that are entraining your brainwaves and altering your consciousness.

These meditation recordings provide one of the most powerful and easy ways to meditate - even if you have never previously meditated. Just put on the headphones, push the play button and listen to the recording. A good brainwave entrainment product designed for meditation, if used laying down, will likely put you to sleep in ten minutes - not a bad secondary use, and a reminder of how powerfully these things affect your brainwaves.

New Ways to Meditate: The MP3 Player

The second important development is that of small and light MP3 players. They have opened up more ways to meditate than ever because of their size and weight. Small CD players can be used, but they skip if you move too rapidly - and they really don't come very small. But when you load an MP3 player with a meditation recording, you can slow your brainwaves and enter an alpha state even while running. In the past only practitioners with years of experience could bring their meditative state into most of their daily routines.

Listening to a brainwave entrainment recording while walking also provides a unique way to meditate. This may be best in wilderness areas, but then again, why not try it while negotiating the sidewalks of a city? It may be nice to relax your mind while in the midst of a busy downtown area.

Certainly there are many other ways to meditate using the technologies of MP3 players and brainwave entrainment. For example, I meditate while on a plane. You can carry this great little meditation helper almost anywhere, so use your imagination.

More Pages:

The Best Meditation Audio?
Brainwave Entrainment Tips
Easy Meditation Techniques
Meditation For Relaxation And More

The Meditation Program This is one of the most cutting-edge brainwave tools currently available. The eight levels included take you from the beginner level (mid-Alpha) right through to super-advanced (mid-Delta). If you get the MP3 downloads (CDs are available too) you might want to skip the "Registration Backup Service," which covers you if you lose the files, and just put an extra copy somewhere in your computer. But either way, this is one of the best products I have used. - Steve Use this link now to get more information or buy the program: The Meditation Program