| How do you choose the relaxation music that | | | | as well. |
| works best? You can certainly start by | | | | |
| experimenting with many different types. | | | | Any of the music in these examples is |
| After all, it seems likely that what one | | | | relatively inexpensive. Even the best "sounds |
| person finds relaxing another will find | | | | of nature" and "easy listening" relaxation |
| irritating. But is it all just a matter of | | | | CDs are usually no more than twenty-five |
| personal preference? | | | | dollars. However, if you're willing to spend |
| | | | a bit more, there is a more scientific |
| Actually no. Though ones personal tastes | | | | approach to using relaxation music. |
| enter into the equation, there are reasons | | | | |
| that some types of music are more relaxing | | | | Altering Your Brainwaves |
| than others. For example, both science and | | | | |
| the experience of many people point to the | | | | Some types of music work better than others |
| usefulness of baroque music for relaxation. | | | | because of what they do to our brainwaves. |
| Studies have shown that baroque music at 60 | | | | Our brains primarily produce brainwaves at 14 |
| beats per minute causes your brain to produce | | | | - 30 hertz (cycles-per-second) during normal |
| more alpha brainwaves. Why does that matter? | | | | waking consciousness. In this frequency range |
| More on that in a moment. For now, here are | | | | they are referred to as "beta" waves. |
| some specific examples of good relaxation | | | | Frequencies from 8 - 14 hertz are "alpha" |
| music. | | | | waves, which are present when we are more |
| | | | relaxed. Around 4 - 8 hertz is the "theta" |
| "Harpsichord Concerto in F Minor," by J.S. | | | | range, accompanied by a deeper meditative or |
| Bach | | | | drowsy state. Finally, during deep sleep |
| | | | delta waves (below 5 hertz) are produced. |
| "Concerto No.10 in F Major from Twelve | | | | |
| Concerti Grossi," by A. Corelli | | | | Meditation stimulates the more relaxing |
| | | | states of consciousness especially if it is |
| "Winter" from "The Four Seasons," by A. | | | | regularly practiced. The good news, if you |
| Vivaldi | | | | don't have the time nor inclination to |
| | | | meditate, is that music which has been |
| "Canon in D," by Pachelbel | | | | embedded with certain beats works in the same |
| | | | way. This is the basis for the newest |
| "Adagio in G Minor for Strings," by Albinoni | | | | brainwave entrainment technologies, based on |
| | | | decades of research. Simply listen to these |
| Often it's just a passage from these that has | | | | CDs or MP3s with headphones and they alter |
| the most relaxing effect. In the first three | | | | your brainwaves, causing a quick relaxation |
| examples above, the movements referred to as | | | | response. |
| "largo" work best. | | | | |
| | | | In other words, if you're willing to spend a |
| What other types of music help people relax? | | | | little more, you get true relaxation |
| Light jazz (try Luther Vandross) works for | | | | technology. Also, these products generally |
| some. Eastern music, like that which uses the | | | | have pleasant music for a background too |
| Indian Sitar, is another favorite (try Ravi | | | | (though some use rain or wave sounds). That |
| Shankar). Generic easy listening music with | | | | makes them the best kind of relaxation music |
| sounds of nature mixed in is a common choice | | | | in my experience. |