Introduction
Music has many benefits, from helping us unwind after a long day at work to always being in the background at times of celebration. But did you know that listening to meditation music while meditating can help bring us closer to attaining inner peace? Read this blog post to learn more!
What is meditation music?
Meditation is the practice of calming our minds and collecting our thoughts. Finding a little time to meditate daily can help us have a more positive outlook on life, instil the values of patience, and, most importantly, help us reach a good state of mind that is ideal in today’s fast-paced world. If you are a regular practitioner of meditation, you may have heard that a calm, quiet place is the best setting for a meditation session; I sure have, but that may not necessarily be the case always.
Meditation music can enhance your meditation experience and help you reach your goal of inner peace faster and more effectively. It can soothe the mind, and its soft, slow music and rhythm are ideal for meditation sessions. It can include natural sounds or instrumental music that can touch your soul. This kind of music is primarily for meditating, but you can also play it when practising yoga, yoga Nidra trying to focus while you work, or even when you want to relax and unwind.
How does meditation music help people?
Meditation music has several benefits[1],[2] that help individuals live healthier, more balanced, and stress-free lives. Here are some of these benefits:
Profound and accessible meditation: Calming music can help quiet the mind and bring it to a place of deep stillness that allows for inner peace.
Reduces stress: Meditation music can help relax the body to such an extent that it elevates the mind; it can also significantly reduce the stress a person feels. Because meditation music can quiet your thoughts, it makes you feel much better and improves overall health.
Healing and renewal: Research shows that when the body and mind are at peace and relaxed, it enhances the body’s innate ability to heal. Use meditation music to become at ease and allow your body to heal itself.
Improved sleep: Those who have problems falling asleep can benefit from listening to meditation music just before retiring to bed, as it will help them fall asleep faster and also helps them forget the worries of the day. Meditation music rebuilds our sense of inner peace, which can help us enjoy more restful and deeper sleep.
When to listen to meditation music
There is no specific time for an individual to listen to meditation music[4]. This music is so relaxing and soothing that playing it in the background will help us feel better no matter the occasion. Here are a few situations where meditation music would come in handy:
When you want to relax
Irrespective of whether you are getting a soothing massage or soaking in a nice hot bath after a long tiring day, relaxing meditation music can enhance the experience. Listening to this type of music can also help you let go and relax deeply.
Before travel
Many travellers find the travel experience very daunting, primarily if they are dealing with a phobia. Listening to soothing meditation music can help reduce the stress and anxiety that comes with travel and envelop us in an atmosphere of calmness and serenity.
To soothe babies and young children.
Putting a restless baby or young child to sleep can be daunting for even the most seasoned parent. However, when this music is played just before nap time or the evening before the child goes to bed, it can soothe them enough to help them fall asleep. Research shows that playing it helps kids sleep more quickly and stay asleep longer.
How does meditation music help maintain inner peace?
Meditation music is a doorway to self-reflection [3] and provides the individual with opportunities for different aspects of self-realisation that are difficult to find through other methods. Meditating while listening to soft meditation music invites the individual to explore their inner self. Closing our eyes while doing so can help us open up to a rich world of knowledge and understanding of ourselves and the world around us. With meditation and music, we can have a transformational experience bringing forth inner realisation and inner peace[5], a sacred form of wisdom in numerous cultures. This inner experience can access a level of feelings that is not only primal but is impossible to express in words or language; it deepens the awareness of self and self concerning others.
Effects of meditation music
We have already discussed how meditation music is a powerful tool for stress management and calming[1],[2] the mind and body. Regular meditation can also aid in reducing anxiety and bringing mindfulness to an individual. Here are some effects of meditation music:
Deeper meditation
Those who are already experts in the art of meditation can achieve more profound levels of calmness and serenity by using meditation music when they practice. Meditation music works on our cognitive abilities to help us achieve inner peace and happiness.
Balanced emotions
It helps us balance our emotions. Having a balance of emotions ensures we are ready to face any problem with a calm mind. It also helps us deal with the changes around us instead of trying to escape them. Meditation helps reduce depression relapses by 12%.
Better concentration
Listening to it while working or studying leads to higher concentration levels, which is crucial when working on complex projects or trying to understand difficult concepts. A recent study showed that 47% of students claimed that music helped them concentrate better when studying.
Conclusion
If you are already meditating daily, playing soft meditation music in the background is beneficial. You can also play it while working out, practising yoga, or eating to instil a more conservative nature in yourself and your family. If you are someone who has not practised meditation before, it is best to start small with just a few minutes of reflection. You can then move on to more extended periods accompanied by meditation music to attain inner peace.
References
- L. Yogita, “Meditation music,” Study Abroad Blogs | All about universities, programs, tests, & more! 24-Dec-2021.
- S. Mehdi, “10 amazing benefits of listening to music during meditation,” STYLECRAZE, 10-Nov-2014.
- R. Anand(PhD), “9 benefits of relaxing music,” Practo.com, 12-Nov-2018. [Online]. Available: https://www.practo.com/healthfeed/9-benefits-of-relaxing-music-36145/post. [Accessed: 11-Feb-2023].
- Sequoiarecords.com. [Online]. Available: http://www.sequoiarecords.com/article-16-. [Accessed: 11-Feb-2023].
- garima05malik, “The sound of inner peace,” ProKensho – Seeing one’s (true) nature, 15-Jan-2022.
