If you are new to meditation as a form of stress release or to achieve enlightenment, you may have a few questions about how to practice it. You may be wondering how to make meditation easier or things to add during meditation. Meditation is used as a stress management tool as it creates a calm mind and body.
Through practicing meditation, people build resilience towards stress and can become in even the most anxiety-prone moments. Music is generally a tool that is used as a stress management tool, just like meditation. People often wonder if meditation and music can mesh together with their relaxation abilities.
Using music as a way to aid your meditation practice can create a positive experience that brings a great amount of stress relief. Music in meditation can also make meditation easier for beginners and it can instantly relax you. It will allow you to put your mind in focus and be able to focus on your breath only.
So, how can you use meditation in music? You may have a few other questions as to whether meditation is more beneficial with music or what music to use.
Is it better to meditate with music?
While you meditate in silence, if you have trouble concentrating or relaxing your mind, you may find that having music is an excellent tool. It can put you in a relaxing mood prepared to calm your body and mind. However, some people find that music can be distracting during meditation.
If you are one of those people, music may not be as beneficial as you think. When it comes down to whether meditation is more beneficial with the accompaniment of music, it all depends on the person who is practicing it. A 2019 study found that beginner meditators preferred music while more experienced meditators preferred silence.
However, this is not saying that music is a negative addition to meditation. It aids people in focusing and creates a more positive mediation experience. If you are a beginner in meditation or have had a very busy day and have trouble focusing, music can help calm your body and help you focus as you are meditating.
How does music benefit meditation?
When music is either a background sound or the main focus of meditation, it can create visuals and soothe the body. If the music has a soft tempo and creates a calm feeling, music can successfully benefit your meditation practice. Meditation is used to create soft breathing and calmness, so when music is accompanied by mediation it should do the same.
In this sense, music does benefit meditation. It can benefit mediation by creating a relaxing atmosphere and soothing the body. Once the music creates a relaxing environment, people can more easily fall into the relaxed feeling the meditation is trying to create.
Is there music specifically for meditation?
If you are having trouble finding music that is relaxing for you, you may want music that is specifically for meditation. In this case, you are in luck. There are multiple different types of meditation music created specifically for calming the mind and body.
These may be Tibetan chants, ambient music, drums, classical music, or even nature sounds. Some people may prefer the sound of water falling over people chanting. Or, in turn, some people may prefer experimental ambient music over the sound of birds.
It is important to listen to different kinds of meditation music so you can find what you prefer and what relaxes you. Meditation is all up to experimentation. Each person is different, so it is all dependent on the individual. There is no right or wrong, only what works for you.
How do you practice meditation with music?
At this point, you may be wondering how you successfully use music in meditation? If you want to make sure you are focused and relaxed during meditation, it is important to use music that will aid in the process. Follow the next steps for using music in meditation:
1. Choose the music for your meditation.
Choosing music for your meditation is important. This is all dependent on your taste and what you prefer. If there is music that you dislike and you feel affects your heart rate, do not choose this music. So, if you do not like ambient music or atonal music, do not choose this music.
You also need to find music that has a slow tempo and does not have any lyrics. If someone is singing, you may be distracted and will engage active parts of your mind. You will start to focus on the singer rather than your meditation.
In turn, if the music has too fast of a tempo, it may affect your heart rate. This will create an adverse effect by not allowing you to focus or relax.
2. Get comfortable.
Sit or lay down in a position that is most comfortable for you. If you have trouble sitting on the ground with your legs crossed, then you typically should not meditate this way. When it comes to meditation, you must do what you feel is the most comfortable position.
If you want a cushion or to put your legs a certain way, you should do that. People at times do not like to lie down because it may make them too tired. However, if laying down works for you, you should be laying down while meditating.
This all comes down to practice and experimentation. Check in with yourself and see what is most comfortable while meditating. Whatever position makes you more relaxed should be your go-to position for meditation.
3. Focus on your breathing.
After you find a position that works for you, it is time to close your eyes and focus on your breath through your diaphragm. Breathing during meditation is one of the main focuses. These breaths are long and focused, with intention.
4. Let your body relax.
As you are focusing on your breathing, relax the muscles in your faces, shoulders, and then on. Your body will become more relaxed and feel heavier with each breath. The more you breathe, the more your body will become relaxed, reaching the goal of meditation.
5. Focus on the music.
Using music to accompany your meditation to keep you focused and relaxed, is the main goal of using music for mediation. So, it is important to stay focused on the music to keep your mind from wandering. While using music as your main focus, you can easily redirect your attention to the sound of the music and how your body feels.
As you are focusing on the music, you will be brought back to the present moment in your meditation. Music will keep you focused, calm, and in the present. It is important to use it for what you intended it to, so you have a positive and successful meditation.
How long should I meditate with music?
Some people meditate with music for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. During this amount of time, you will become fully immersed in your meditation. Meditation for about 20 minutes a day, in general, is the goal of each person, using it as stress relief.
Most experienced meditators meditate multiple times a day, usually in the morning and the evening.
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