When someone asks me ... well what genre of music should I look for  ... I have to say there are so many different types ... and they are called by so many different names..

Some describe the music as New Age, meditation music, healing music. Some go as far as calling it spiritual ... others call it reiki music, sounds of nature, massage music, stress relief music, meditation music or just music for the mind, body and soul.

Yet again others swear by classical music!

A person is extremely influenced by sounds, you notice the physical body and chakra centers respond to different sounds.

One of the first stress fighting changes you notice in your body when you play music that is soothing to you is an increase in deep breathing.

Did you know that music can slow down and equalize brain waves?

Our brain waves vibrate at different speeds while we do different activities.

As our brain waves slow down, the more relaxed and peaceful we feel. What we want to experience are the alpha waves,... they are the calming ones. They occur when you are relaxed, not thinking... in that state of sublime peace.  It's  a great feeling of "floating" and is produced during meditation and hypnosis. Alpha waves vibrate between 9 and 13 times per second.

When we focus on work or daily activities or have strong negative emotions, then we experience beta waves which vibrate from 14-20 times per second

When you're in a deep state of relaxation theta waves occur. They are associated with creativity, learning and vivid imagery. You also find these waves in advanced meditation. Theta waves vibrate between 4 and 8 times per second.

Lastly during deep sleep and the deepest of meditations you will experience the delta waves which are the slowest brainwaves that our brains produce. They vibrate at around 1-3 times per secon.

Now why is this relevant to me?

Well it's been found that music of about 60 beats per minute (certain Baroque and New Age music)can help change brain waves from beta waves to alpha thereby helping you relax and calm down.

Droning drumming sounds shifts you into the theta range, helping your breath slow even more.

So can Yoga Music and Meditation Music be seen as music therapy?

Not every music though is therapy for everyone ... one really needs to try and see what appeals to you ...

Depending on my mood, I may use yoga music, meditation music  or actually any music that appeals to me as therapy...

I lie down somewhere comfortable and put the music on ... and then just focus on it;

Now, if the music has a slow beat with perhaps some  repetitive themes then that's even better as it helps you focus on just being. The mind doesn't have to do too much work listening and it becomes in tune with the slower rhythm of the music;

As the music plays I let it wash away the stresses of the day. I focus on my breath and breathe slowly and deeply. Don't analyse the music just let it surge over you like a wave ebbing and flowing;

Now should you not be in the mood for music then take time out to listen to the sounds of nature.

Those stereotypical pictures you often see, (and by the way I have a similar image on this page) of people sitting cross-legged on a beach, or in a field on a sunny day  make a lot of sense.

Think about it, the sounds of the ocean waves, of a stream running,  the wind through the leaves of a forest, or rustling through grass with the heady perfume of flowers and the sun on your face ... those sounds also encourage alpha waves. The ocean has the rhythmic ebb and flow, the wind through the trees a particular constant sound, the same with the sound of the wind through the grass ..., this allows you just to be and encourages  you to release all thoughts and just give yourself to the moment.

Now should you not be able to get the real thing, then CD's with nature sounds are the second best. Sit on your porch in the sun if you can with your head phones on and just Be ...

15-20 minutes is all you'll need .... you'll be amazed how relaxed you can feel ... when you just give yourself permission to Be!