Have you ever wanted to quickly enter states of relaxation, focus, high-energy, or meditation at will. I have found that sound, especially in the form of binaural beats can be really effective for this. Let me explain why and what binaural beats actually are...stick with me, it's worth
it! ;-)
Binaural beats effectively synchronise & entrain your brainwaves to enhance a specific brainwave pattern. Entraining your brainwaves can be a highly effective method for personal growth by allowing you to change your state whenever you want.
What are the benefits of modifying our brainwaves?
In general, we are accustomed to being in the Beta brain rhythm. We are in a Beta brainwave pattern when we are consciously alert. It is the default and dominant brainwave for most of us, most of the time. We are in Beta when we feel agitated, tense, hurried, pressured, afraid and stressed. (Brain wave chart below).
When we alter our brain rhythm to Alpha, we are slowing our brainwaves down. The benefit of this is that we put ourselves in the ideal brain state for optimal performance and super learning.
Some forms of meditation, relaxation exercises, and activities that enable a sense of calm, also naturally create this Alpha state.
According to neuroscientists, the effect of decreasing the brain rhythm from Beta to Alpha via deep relaxation techniques and the use of binaural beats brain entrainment, changes the levels of certain beneficial brain chemicals.
Studies show that Alpha states significantly increase beta-endorphin, norepinephrine and dopamine. These naturally occurring chemicals are linked to feelings of expanded mental clarity and generate an internal environment for new learning and accessing previously learned information. This positive effect lasts for hours and even days.
What most people don't realize is that although the creation of binaural beats music has only been possible through technological advancement in the last 100 years or so, the use of this natural science dates back thousands of years.
Ancient cultures were aware of how the brain could be entrained through sound repetition long before modern science was able to explain the process.They didn't refer to this science as binaural beats, but what they did know was that consistent, rhythmic sound had extremely powerful healing and spiritual benefits.
Scientist Melinda Maxfield, PhD, conducted research on drumbeats used during rituals of ancient cultures and found that they generally beat at a steady rate of 4.5 beats per second.
This consistent beat induces a trance-like state for the tribe, due to the brain shifting into a 4.5 beats-per-second brainwave frequency, which is a low Theta brainwave state.
Through the use of repetitive drumming and chanting, Tibetan monks, Native American shamans, Hindu healers and master Yogis have been able to induce specific brainwave states for transcending consciousness, healing, concentration and spiritual growth.
How do Binaural Beats work?
The word binaural means “having or relating to two ears”. Brainwave entrainment happens inside the brain, and is caused by a physiological response. Upon hearing two tones of different frequencies – sent simultaneously to the left and right ears through headphones – the brain perceives a third tone based on the mathematical difference between the two frequencies.
The brain then follows along at the new frequency (5 Hz), producing brainwaves at the same rate of Hertz (Hz). The technical term for this process is ‘frequency following response'.
For example: if a 100 Hz sound frequency is sent to the left ear, and a 105 Hz to the right ear, the brain will process those two frequencies and perceive a new frequency at 5 Hz which is in the Theta range.
All you have to do is put on a pair on headphones, relax and press play. It's that easy.
I'll be releasing my new binaural beat meditations soon, I cant wait to share them with you :-)
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