Music involves pretty much every single lobe of the brain – those responsible for processing sound, language, patterns, visual imagery, emotions, and so much more. No matter the genre, music can excite you, motivate you, make you feel sad, calm you down, or help you fall asleep.

Music is an especially powerful tool when combined with meditation. Listening to peaceful music 

In particular, it can help improve your mood and even lower your blood pressure or heart rate, which can put you into a more regulated state conducive to meditation.

Let’s dive in and look at some of the beneficial effects of sound meditation.

Music and the brain

When we listen to music, the brain releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. This is why listening to your favorite song can instantly lift your mood. But the effects of music go beyond simple pleasure. Music has been shown to activate multiple brain areas, including those involved in emotion, memory, and even physical movement.

One of neuroscience's most interesting findings is how music can synchronize brain waves. Brain waves are patterns of electrical activity in the brain, and different types of brain waves are associated with different states of consciousness. 

• Beta waves (14-30 Hz): Associated with normal waking consciousness and active thinking.
• Alpha waves (8-13 Hz): Linked to relaxation and light meditation.
• Theta waves (4-7 Hz): Connected to deep meditation and creativity.
• Delta waves (0.5-4 Hz): Related to deep sleep and healing.

Music with slower tempos and lower frequencies promotes alpha and theta waves, inducing relaxation and introspection ideal for meditation. This is why many people find classical music or nature sounds particularly conducive to meditation practices.

Music and the body

The rhythm of music plays a significant role in its effects on the body. Studies have shown that our physiological rhythms, such as heart rate and breathing, synchronize with musical rhythms. This phenomenon, known as entrainment, can be used to deliberately slow down these bodily processes to reach a fully relaxed state. This controlled breathing helps oxygenate the body more effectively, promoting better lung function and overall respiratory health. Additionally, deep breathing induced by music meditation activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for rest and digestion, leading to a calm and restorative state.

The physical effects of music and meditation persist long after the session is finished. Regular practice of sound meditation can help maintain a healthy heart and reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems. Some studies also suggest that regular meditation and listening to music can enhance immune function by reducing stress and inflammation. 

Health benefits of sound meditation

• Stress reduction: One of the most well-documented benefits of meditation with sound is its ability to reduce stress. When combined with mindfulness techniques, the soothing sounds of music can lower cortisol levels. 
• Improved sleep: The right sound frequency promotes calming effects and can help slow down heart rate and breathing, making it easier to transition into a restful state.
• Pain management: Studies have shown that music can trigger the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, providing a non-invasive and side-effect-free method of pain relief.
• Emotional regulation: Music has the unique ability to evoke and regulate emotions. During meditation, different sounds can help individuals process and release negative emotions.
• Improved cognition: The mental focus required during meditation, coupled with the stimulation provided by sound, can improve concentration, memory, and overall cognitive function.

Try an Open sound meditation

If you love music and meditation separately, imagine how much you’d love them together in a music meditation practice. With an Open teacher, you can learn self-regulating exercises for better mental and physical health. 

Transcendent Love w/ Manoj D.

This one is on Transcendent Love, intended to guide you as you navigate any challenges you may face in your relationships with compassion and patience. 

Transcendent love is the ability to love endlessly and without limit, regardless of conflict and no matter how difficult a relationship may be. Transcendent love does not mean accepting wrong treatment from another person. When you can separate the love from everything else in a relationship, 

As you go through this exercise with Manoj, use music and words to guide you.

Love for Yourself w/ Erin G.

This music meditation is designed to increase your love and appreciation for yourself. This love is based not on what you’ve accomplished, the good things you’ve done, or how you interacted in a certain situation. Instead, this exercise teaches you to love yourself exactly as you are in the moment you are in. 

You begin by sitting silently, practicing breathwork, and relaxing your body. Then, picture yourself sitting next to someone who accepts you exactly how you are—nothing more and nothing less. 

Pay attention to your thoughts, emotions, and feelings throughout this music meditation, and allow the calm music to increase your state of focus and relaxation further.  

Dynamic Sleep w/ Mel M.

Different modes of brain function involve different brain waves. This music meditation with Mel induces a hypnagogic state, a state of consciousness between wakefulness and sleep.

You will be guided through various deep breaths, in through your nose and out through your mouth. As you practice this breathwork, you will notice your body as it approaches a parasympathetic state of rest and relaxation.

To further increase this relaxation, your instructor will call out parts of the body individually, such as your fingers, toes, or legs. As each area is addressed, you are instructed to pay attention to that one area and make a conscious effort to relax that part. 

Finally, you will be taken through a backward-counting exercise and additional breathwork.