Relaxation Using Meditation Audio

Meditation audio for relaxation and stress relief

Relaxation with meditation audio can provide quick and easy relief from the stresses of modern life. We are are under so much pressure, with so much to do and so little time, that when we do get a moment to ourselves, it is hard to switch off and relax. Meditation CDs and MP3s are now widely used to aid relaxation.

There are 3 main types of meditation audio available and I’ll describe them here so that you will be able to decide if they might help you to relax and which type would work best for you.

The 3 main types of meditation recordings

The first type is of the music or sound variety. These contain either soothing music or sounds that are considered to be relaxing. Popular ones are whale song, falling rain or waves breaking on the beach.

These are popular and continue to sell well, presumably because people are getting results with them. I haven’t really tried them myself, but I guess that they would depend quite a lot on your ability to relax anyway.

The second type is guided meditation audios. There are many types of meditation practice that involve counting breaths, focusing on a particular word or mantra, or visualizing something specific. Again, I haven’t tried the recordings but I have attended live guided meditation sessions.

These were very effective for me and very beneficial for needing help in learning a meditation practice. I don’t how the recordings would compare to a live session in a controlled environment in terms of effectiveness. But even if they are slightly less effective, at least they are more readily available whenever you need them.

Thirdly there are entrainment technologies. These use various methods to lead the brain into meditative states reliably and safely, using tried and tested technology.

What has worked for me

What I am most familiar with is binaural beat meditation. Music or sounds are used to mask two tones that are applied to each ear via headphones. The brain resolves these to produce brainwaves at the required meditative level.

This has been my daily practice for over two years now, and it has greatly increased my ability to relax and to stay calm in the face of situations that would have caused high levels of stress before.

This is what has worked for me but it may be too much of a time commitment for most people. At least you now have a basic understanding of what types of relaxation meditation audio are available and can decide which to investigate further. Also read my page about meditation recordings.