Music and sounds are known for their ability to affect our moods. Music activates our frontal lobe and this can cause certain noises to be more beneficial in our completion of certain tasks and activities. What sounds we should listen to will vary depending on our goal. Whether we want to relax, unwind, release tension or feel calm, we should adapt the sounds to fit our intended mood.
When it comes to meditation, there are various noises that are considered to be the most effective for relaxation. The most common meditation sounds are:
- guided meditation audios
- binaural music
- nature sounds
- Mantras
Binaural Sounds
Binaural sounds are typically used for Binaural beat therapy where sound waves are used to treat anxiety and stress. This involves listening to audio that gives off a beat in the left ear that is a different frequency to what is being heard in the right ear. These sounds then have an effect on the body which induces relaxation.
For some people, they use this for an increase in concentration or to deepen the level of meditation. To use this method, you should use headphones in order to feel the most comfortable with the difference in frequencies. You should always seek medical advice before you decide to start binaural therapy.
Guided Meditation Sounds
Guided meditation is a great way to include sounds in your meditation routine. The audio, often guided with speech, tells you how you can slow down your breathing and it enables you to follow the best ways to meditate. With unguided meditation, it can sometimes be difficult to understand what you're supposed to be doing when you're in silence.
It is quite often seen that guided meditation will include background sounds. These can include calming sounds, such as nature and calming melodies. These sounds work great alongside the guided voice of meditation. The sound of guided meditation will encourage a specific mental imagery that unguided meditation cannot.
Nature Sounds
If you choose to meditate outdoors, there will be the sounds of nature around you. It can be beneficial to adapt to those sounds whilst you are meditating. With natural sounds, they are not on repeat, and the sounds will be different day to day. The natural sounds will encourage you to think externally. When listening to guided meditation, the same video can become repetitive, and your mind will start to memorise the material.
Environmental noise is great for ensuring that you do not think too much about the sounds around you for concentrating on sounds can sometimes distract you from meditation.
Mantras
Mantras for meditation are repeated phrases, from specific vibrations, that are chanted out loud or silently in order to develop a deeper connection with a higher power. These mantras are closely linked to healing, transformation and inner awakening. When deciding on a mantra, is it important to select one that is closely aligned with your intentions behind doing meditation.
The benefits behind mantra meditation are:
- Increased self-awareness
- Reduced stress
- Sense of calmness
- A positive outlook on life
How do you complete a mantra meditation?
- Ensure you are comfortable with your environment
- Set a timer to ensure that you are meditating for a suitable amount of time. You can start with a 5-minute meditation if you are new to meditation
- Use your mantra. This can be a word or phrase that you have selected to bring out a positive energy
- If your thoughts wonder, gently redirect your attention back to the mantra
- Once the timer has indicated the meditation has finished, gently bring the meditation to a close
From a psychological perspective, the repetition of certain phrases are known to hold power. Therefore, mantra meditation is a particularly powerful form of meditation.
The most popular mantras
There are various mantras that are used traditionally throughout the meditation process, but we have found some popular mantras that you may want to consider incorporating into your meditation.
- “I am not afraid to be wrong”
- “My body is my temple”
- “I listen to my body and give it what is needs”
- “I will speak with confidence and self-assurance”
These mantras were taken from SCL Health and were formed to support the mind, body, and spirit.
