How to Practice Music Meditation

How to Practice Music Meditation Meditation Print How to Practice Music Meditation By Elizabeth Scott, MS twitter Elizabeth Scott, MS, is a wellness coach specializing in stress management and quality of life, and the author of 8 Keys to Stress Management. Learn about our editorial policy Elizabeth Scott, MS Updated on October 17, 2019 Creative RF/ZenShui/Michele Constantini/Getty Images More in Self-Improvement Meditation Happiness Stress Management Spirituality Holistic Health Inspiration Brain Health Technology Relationships View All Music has many wonderful benefits for stress management and overall health. It can help you calm your physiology without making a conscious effort, and that can alleviate stress from your mind. Music can also lift your mood, slow your breathing, and create other stress-inducing changes.   Meditation is also one of the most popular stress management strategies for good reasonâ€"it brings short-term benefits like a calm mind and body, and it can build resilience toward stress over time.  Combining music with meditation can deepen the positive effects of both, and bring you greater stress relief. As an added bonus, for many people who are beginners to meditation, or who are perfectionists, music meditation can feel simpler and less stressful than many other forms of practice. Therefore, its a stress relief technique that I recommend to just about anyone. With regular practice, this meditation can help you to better manage whatever stress comes. Time Required While 20 minutes is a good minimum time for music medication, even one song can help reduce stress and restore energy. Instructions for Music Mediation Choose meditation music that can help you relax. This means finding music that you enjoy listening toâ€"if you don’t enjoy classical music, for example, don’t choose it. You should also look for music that has a slower tempo, and preferably without lyrics, which can be distracting and can engage your conscious mindâ€"the part of your mind that we hope to ‘turn off’.Get into a comfortable position and relax. Many people think they need to sit with their legs crossed a certain way or use a meditation cushion, but really, whatever position you feel is comfortable is the position you should try.  Some people avoid lying down because they fall asleep this way if theyre tired; you can experiment and decide whats right for you.  Once youve found your position, close your eyes, loosen your muscles, and breathe through your diaphragm. Let your shoulders, your belly, and even the muscles in your face relax.  Stay focused on the music. If you find yourself thinking about other things (o r even thinking thoughts about the music), gently redirect your attention to the present moment, the sound of the music, and the feelings in your body that the music evokes. Try to really feel the music.Continue this practice for several minutes, until your time runs out. As thoughts come into your head, gently let them go and redirect your attention to the sound of the music, the present moment, and the physical sensations you feel. The goal of this practice is to quiet your inner voice and just ‘be’. So just ‘be’ with the music, and fully immerse yourself, and you’ll feel more relaxed fairly quickly. How to Use Music for Stress Management Tips You may want to start out with just a few songs and work your way up to longer practice.?If you find the music brings lots of thoughts, memories and internal dialogue, switch to a different type of music. Instrumental music can come in many forms, including classical, jazz, new age, and more, and it can be less distracting than other types of music.You can time your practice with the number of songs you choose so you don’t have to worry if you are taking more time than you have.If you find yourself ‘thinking too much’, don’t beat yourself up over it; this is natural for those beginning meditation practice. Instead, congratulate yourself on noticing the internal dialogue, and redirecting your attention to the present moment. The Psychological Benefits of Music