Yes, relaxation takes practice. Maybe not as much practice as learning to play guitar or surf, but it still takes practice. I used to think relaxing was just sitting on the couch and watching TV or surfing the internet. While that's not bad, it's not really the best way to relax. When truly relaxing it's important to give the brain (and body) a chance to find another gear.
Thinking of our brainwave states or states of being as "gears" is one way to look at relaxation. As I have mentioned in earlier posts there are four main states of consciousness that are represented by specific frequency ranges in the brain. The brainwave states and associated hertz are:
Beta - (13-38 hertz) This is our active waking, problem solving state of being.
Alpha - (8-13 hertz) This is a relaxed and calm state or light meditation.
Theta - (4-7 hertz) This is associated with deep relaxation, meditation, hypnosis, visualization etc.
Delta - (below 4 hertz) This is associated with deep dreamless sleep. Buddhist Monks and advanced meditation practitioners have also been measured in this state during meditation.
Most of the time we are in Beta State. This is our waking, alert, problem solving state of being. When we go to sleep we briefly pass thru Alpha and Theta on our way to deep sleep in the Delta waves.
I like the analogy of looking at these states like gears on a car. If you had a car with four gears, but you only drove in first and fourth, then obviously that wouldn't be very efficient. Also, this would put stress on the car. I think the same is true with our minds. We have been conditioned to think we should be in full Beta mode soon after waking up and then at the end of the day we should just switch it off and go right to sleep. Unfortunately, that doesn't really work very well. This type of conditioning results in imbalances that can lead to insomnia, anxiety and stress. Being able to understand and access the other gears in our minds is important to being able to function well.
So how does a person learn to access these other gears?
Sound Therapy and Brainwave Entrainment is one very effective way.
What is Entrainment? Entrainment is when two systems come into synchronization with each other. This was first noticed by Christian Huygens, the inventor of the pendulum clock. He noticed that the pendulum clock in his shop would always "sync up" to each other. This phenomena was later studied and the idea of Entrainment came into being. Here is a quick video showing a group of metronomes entraining to each other.
With the entrainment of Sound Therapy, our brainwaves are entraining to an existing oscillation. The repetitive nature of these oscillations encourage our brainwaves to entrain with the oscillation, much like the metronomes in the video above. In this way we are able to access some of the "gears" in our mind states. Accessing these different gears not only give the mind a rest, but because the mind the heart and breathing are all connecting via the Parasympathetic Nervous System, they also give our body a rest. Binaural beats (download some here) are sound oscillations that give our brains a window into accessing these mental states. Other instruments, like Tibetan Singing Bowls or Crystal Bowls also produce these types of oscillations.
What is an oscillation? according to wikipedia:
"Oscillation is the repetitive variation, typically in time, of some measure about a central value (often a point of equilibrium) or between two or more different states. Familiar examples include a swinging pendulum and AC power. The term vibration is sometimes used more narrowly to mean a mechanical oscillation but is sometimes used as a synonym of "oscillation". Oscillations occur not only in physical systems but also in biological systems, from human society to the brain."
Remember, the body is a rhythm machine. You have a heartbeat, pulsation in your vessels, your brainwaves create frequency (another type of rhythm) and your breath expands and contracts and our digestive system even has it's own rhythm. We have circadian rhythms that regulate waking and sleep states from night to day. On the micro level even our cells have their own rhythms and vibrations. It is important that these things function in concert with each other with ease. Stress is imbalance and disharmony. In order to maintain harmony and ease, we have to maintain synchronicity and harmony in the system. The best part about this is that our bodies are naturally inclined toward this state. We just have to relax, do the right things (eat well, exercise, sleep...and practice relaxing!!) and get out of the body's way. This can seem very complicated depending on your situation, but each step you take towards harmony will pay big dividends and your body will thank you.
So, while there is nothing wrong with vegging out, watching TV or checking your FaceBook feed, it's not necessarily relaxing in the same sense of giving the body and mind a chance find a new gear in order to download the days stresses, recoup, re-harmonize and truly relax. Remember to take some quiet time each day just for you.
For sound downloads click here.
Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share my love with you. That is my purpose here.
Thinking of our brainwave states or states of being as "gears" is one way to look at relaxation. As I have mentioned in earlier posts there are four main states of consciousness that are represented by specific frequency ranges in the brain. The brainwave states and associated hertz are:
Beta - (13-38 hertz) This is our active waking, problem solving state of being.
Alpha - (8-13 hertz) This is a relaxed and calm state or light meditation.
Theta - (4-7 hertz) This is associated with deep relaxation, meditation, hypnosis, visualization etc.
Delta - (below 4 hertz) This is associated with deep dreamless sleep. Buddhist Monks and advanced meditation practitioners have also been measured in this state during meditation.
Most of the time we are in Beta State. This is our waking, alert, problem solving state of being. When we go to sleep we briefly pass thru Alpha and Theta on our way to deep sleep in the Delta waves.
I like the analogy of looking at these states like gears on a car. If you had a car with four gears, but you only drove in first and fourth, then obviously that wouldn't be very efficient. Also, this would put stress on the car. I think the same is true with our minds. We have been conditioned to think we should be in full Beta mode soon after waking up and then at the end of the day we should just switch it off and go right to sleep. Unfortunately, that doesn't really work very well. This type of conditioning results in imbalances that can lead to insomnia, anxiety and stress. Being able to understand and access the other gears in our minds is important to being able to function well.
So how does a person learn to access these other gears?
Sound Therapy and Brainwave Entrainment is one very effective way.
What is Entrainment? Entrainment is when two systems come into synchronization with each other. This was first noticed by Christian Huygens, the inventor of the pendulum clock. He noticed that the pendulum clock in his shop would always "sync up" to each other. This phenomena was later studied and the idea of Entrainment came into being. Here is a quick video showing a group of metronomes entraining to each other.
With the entrainment of Sound Therapy, our brainwaves are entraining to an existing oscillation. The repetitive nature of these oscillations encourage our brainwaves to entrain with the oscillation, much like the metronomes in the video above. In this way we are able to access some of the "gears" in our mind states. Accessing these different gears not only give the mind a rest, but because the mind the heart and breathing are all connecting via the Parasympathetic Nervous System, they also give our body a rest. Binaural beats (download some here) are sound oscillations that give our brains a window into accessing these mental states. Other instruments, like Tibetan Singing Bowls or Crystal Bowls also produce these types of oscillations.
What is an oscillation? according to wikipedia:
"Oscillation is the repetitive variation, typically in time, of some measure about a central value (often a point of equilibrium) or between two or more different states. Familiar examples include a swinging pendulum and AC power. The term vibration is sometimes used more narrowly to mean a mechanical oscillation but is sometimes used as a synonym of "oscillation". Oscillations occur not only in physical systems but also in biological systems, from human society to the brain."
Remember, the body is a rhythm machine. You have a heartbeat, pulsation in your vessels, your brainwaves create frequency (another type of rhythm) and your breath expands and contracts and our digestive system even has it's own rhythm. We have circadian rhythms that regulate waking and sleep states from night to day. On the micro level even our cells have their own rhythms and vibrations. It is important that these things function in concert with each other with ease. Stress is imbalance and disharmony. In order to maintain harmony and ease, we have to maintain synchronicity and harmony in the system. The best part about this is that our bodies are naturally inclined toward this state. We just have to relax, do the right things (eat well, exercise, sleep...and practice relaxing!!) and get out of the body's way. This can seem very complicated depending on your situation, but each step you take towards harmony will pay big dividends and your body will thank you.
So, while there is nothing wrong with vegging out, watching TV or checking your FaceBook feed, it's not necessarily relaxing in the same sense of giving the body and mind a chance find a new gear in order to download the days stresses, recoup, re-harmonize and truly relax. Remember to take some quiet time each day just for you.
For sound downloads click here.
Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share my love with you. That is my purpose here.