Do you ever wonder about listening to music or not during meditation? I know that I have.

Music has many benefits for stress management, helping to alter a person’s mood becoming calmer and more relaxed.  Meditation can also calm the mind and the body, building resilience to stress and bringing a sense of inner peace.

I personally have experienced that listening to calming music while meditating helps me to focus and calm my body, supporting my meditation.

​“The purpose of meditation is to make our mind calm and peaceful. If our mind is peaceful, we will be free from worries and mental discomfort, and so we will experience true happiness. But if our mind is not peaceful, we will find it very difficult to be happy, even if we are living in the very best conditions.”
                                                                                                Kelsang GyatsoGive it a try and see if calming music supports your meditation. Here are some tips to get you started.

1. Choose music that is relaxing and preferably without lyrics.  Words can be distracting and engage you in thinking – something you are trying not to do in meditation.
2. Sit in a comfortable and upright position. Close your eyes and begin to take slower, deeper breaths.
3. As thoughts come into your head, gently let them go and come back to the present moment.
4. Continue this for several minutes, up to 20 minutes is a good amount of time.

If you find that a particular type of music brings a lot of memories or thoughts, try a different type.

1. Bring you to a state of calm and relaxation more quickly.  Music can help you to let go of the busyness and stress of the day.  They easily fade away in the calming atmosphere created with the soft music.
2. Help you prepare for a good night’s sleep.  Whether you meditate in the morning or evening, you body will slip into a deeper state of relaxation. This will help it prepare for a restful night’s sleep that evening.
3. Help with your focus. If your mind tends to wonder during meditation, calming music can help you come back to the present moment, releasing thoughts of the past or future.
4. Bring you into a state of healing. As you experience a deep state of rest, your body can enter into its natural state of healing itself releasing any stress and toxins.

Give it a try and let me know how it goes.  What music do you use?  How does it support you?  What changes do you see in your meditation?

Check out the many audio recordings available to support you in your spiritual practice in my Free Healing Library here.