Everywhere I go these days, I keep hearing about binaural beats and how they can help you relax, and even enter into deeper meditative states. Some people go so far as to claim that they can somehow increase your spiritual awareness in the same way that years and years of diligent meditation can.
Is there any truth to this?
To help you discover the answer, I’ve created this blog and will review and explain binaural beats, so that you understand exactly what they are, how they work, and what they do. So first off, is there any truth to the claim that they can help you relax?
Well, it seems there is. I’ve been practicing meditation for many years myself, and have found that binaural beats have a very soothing effect, which is quite similar to that felt during a meditative trance. Many binaural beats have soothing soundtracks, such as rain or the ocean in the background, which alone can help to induce a sense of comfort and relaxation.
So how do this all work? Well, these beats work by a process known as brain entrainment, where sounds are used to entrain the brain into a deeper state of relaxation. Basically, you start by putting on a pair of headphones and getting into a comfortable position. Then, you listen to the music, relax and let the magic happen.
You see, as we relax or sleep, our brains enter lower states of activity, which can be measured using various technologies. Most brain entrainment cds aim to mimic these relaxed brainwave states, which are often between 5 Hz and 13 Hz.
Brain entrainment is accomplished by playing a tone in one ear with a particular frequency (200hz), and another tone in another ear with a different frequency (210 hz). The difference between the two tones is interpreted by the brain and your brainwaves begin to match the difference in frequency.
There are a great many beats which can be found online through websites such as YouTube. Many professional programs exist as well. I have been researching many of these programs, and will give my opinion on a few in future posts. Stay tuned!