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