BRAIN WAVES + BREATH & SOUND

One of the neatest nuggets of knowledge that I have learned with sound is its ability to help us calm our nervous system... quite scientifically. There is an interconnectedness between our brain wave states, our breath rate, and our heart rate... basically when we can slow these down, we can release tension in the body allowing for healing - and ultimately harmony between the mind, body & soul... sound can help you get there. Let me explain why!

Brain wave states - from ARGH to ahhh (relaxation....)

When we are typically living throughout our day, we are often operating in the Beta brainwave state - when we're responding to others, taking care of day to day.. well EverythinG. High beta is a high stress place to be in (about 24-30 Hz) when we're in fight or flight mode, anxiety or worry. Our heart rate is elevated, and we carry more tension in the body... This is a needed state of being to function in certain moments - however, staying here for an extended period of time can bring the physical body out of alignment as your body is obviously in a "tense" state of being.

When we drop to Alpha, which is a high functioning flow state, we're at about 5-15 Hz. Again, a very needed state of "mind". What is (in my opinion) not occurring for long enough time is getting into Theta - which is a place where we can rest, restore and recover. This is also a joyous place where drop past attachment, past control. This is the state of mind we had as children! This is that peaceful state you're in right before you fall asleep, or right when the sun's rising and your starting to awaken...

And last but not least - the most blissful place to reside in is Gamma. This is the state of being monks live in! It is "quote on quote" the happiest place to be in... heightened perception, learning capacity at max level, cognitive processing is elevated... and the craziest part is - the body is relaxed. In a state of harmony.

Soooo how do we get there?!

Well there is a bridge between Theta and Gamma. When we can get into the state of Theta, we can bridge to Gamma... with practice. Here is where sound comes in! Practicing guided meditation which can help our bodies to relax, but our minds (for me especially!) as long as there is language, we are processing words (our brain is still operating at Alpha). To drop deeper, we can use sound and our breath.

One technique is to practice dropping your breath rate to 4 breaths a minute. If you do this for 4 minutes, you can essentially reset your nervous system. As we do this in combination with sound, frequencies travel throughout your whole body, which can help regulate your nervous system (as well as humming...more on that in another post). Any sounds that have a consistent frequency such as a crystal bowl, Tibetan bowl, or solfeggio frequencies can assist.

[One technique I like to share is actually to cue the breath with a particular sound, such as inhale to the sound of a crystal pyramid, hold briefly with the sound of a bell, and exhale with the sound of a Tibetan bowl. - Musical Breathwork technique!]

During a Sound Bath...

The body naturally relaxes as the frequencies actually permiate through the body. Our bones are very conductive of sound. It allows an experience, where you don't have to think and focus on your breath...it naturally slows. And the frequencies themselves do their magic. Each frequency directly can effect different parts of body where tension may be held. The energy centers of the body are the Chakras, working from basically your butt - all the way up to the head, and beyond... of course the one is control is always YOU. I like to give credit to the frequencies doing the healing, but ultimately they are a guide to help YOU control your body, mind and spirit in the ways that its beautiful and miraculously designed to.

We can release attachment, control, and just BREATHE. Let the frequencies assist in where they will. When we are in relaxed state of safety & love, healing can happen. And we can blissfully reside in Theta ... or even Gamma!!!!

I urge you to give the slow breathing a try, and OF COURSE a sound bath experience. Lets drop deeper together and live the harmonious life we were meant to live!

Ps this is adorable Blue. She lives in Theta/Gamma alot...

#livelikeblue