Meditation and Brain Waves

It's not news that one of the reasons meditation feels so good is because we're changing the brainwave patterns from excess beta to moderate alpha and slower. I've even gone out and purchased a gadget that measures these things, but to my disappointment, the technology hasn't been that accurate or user-friendly on my computer as of yet.

I find it encouraging to read that more studies are being done on what's happening when we meditate so we can demystify the process, get it out of religions, where it seems to hover, and into a personal living room setting. Maybe even into a group yoga studio setting. It might even have a place on a massage table or other treatment room.

By being able to control where the mind is at, which frequencies it's resonating at, we will be able to increase the benefits of meditation - things like deeper relaxation, faster healing, less over-all symptoms of stress - and take out the spiritual blockages to meditation. Meditation can remain an integral part of Christian and Buddhist practices, but for people who want to relax without the accoutrements that come with having meditation in a spiritual setting, they'll have the feedback to see what their brains are up to, without needing a monk or yoga teacher to get them to believe it's good for them.

http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/02/14/controlling-brain-waves-may-be-key-to-meditations-benefits/51591.html

Alpha Brainwaves

More so now than ever, we need to do things that enhance relaxation, which reduces stress and keeps us healthy and able to handle all that life throws at us. Relaxation is enhanced by doing things that bring our brains into a predominantly alpha brainwave pattern.

Things that do that include being awake with our eyes closed, meditating, doing yoga, listening to some kinds of music, and things that bring us to that place where we're feeling creative and calm and where things seem inspiring, where how much money we have or where we live doesn't seem so important. It's a place we can all get to if we practise.

By spending time in a state where the alpha brainwaves are dominant, we heal, we relax, we can be strong in the face of what is happening. Some people do this naturally, and some of us need to do those things on purpose.

I want to find an EEG machine or some sort of biofeedback machine that measures when stress goes up or down, or something that would really measure the brainwaves. If you have leads on one, let me know!