Meditation has become something that many people have incorporated into their daily life. But just like everything else, some very controversial ideas float around.
For instance, take the use of music during meditation. Some will say that it takes away from the process, and others say it enhances it. The choice of meditating with music is really up to you.
If you decide that music is something you would like to incorporate into your meditation practices, then you may be wondering what type of music is best. The truth is it’s really up to you what relaxes you.
Ideally, you’re looking for something that is not super up-tempo and relatively lyric-free. This means things like classical music and traditional music of many different cultures are perfect for meditation practice.
Other music is specifically designed for meditation, such as binaural music and chanting. With that being said, let’s take a look at everything you need to know about music and meditation.
Can You Meditate on Any Type of Music?
The truth is that you can utilize any type of music you want. Meditation is about creating mindfulness and a state of being within you and your surroundings. So whatever music relaxes you and allows you to reach that state is perfect.
However, you have to consider how the music makes you feel. If the music you are listening to makes you feel certain emotions or begin to think about things, that may be a distraction that takes away from your meditational mind.
Most meditation experts are going to suggest that you utilize music that is relatively low tempo and relaxing. This typically means instrumental music with no lyrics unless you are utilizing music with some sort of Gregorian chant or chanting involved.
This type of music will allow you to focus on your mind and not on the lyrics or the feelings and emotions that are elicited from the music itself but rather on what is happening within your own body.
What Makes a Good Meditation Music?
Once again, what makes good meditation music is an industry preference. But there are some key factors that most people will agree with that make for great meditation music. Here are some of those:
- Anything that has soothing sounds, like forest or rainfall, is good. Ambient sounds allow us to soothe the atmosphere and relax more easily.
- Music that has consistent beats. Things that our mind can lock on to and create an almost mesmerizing effect. There should be no sudden changes that can potentially jar you out of the mental landscape you are in during your meditation.
- Meditation practices depending on who you are, can go anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour. So if you’re going to go for longer sessions, you are going to want to make sure that your meditation music lasts that long period. The last thing you’re going to want to do is get up and change tracks during your meditation.
How Do You Choose the Right Music?
Choosing the right music for you is about your preferences and your intention for what your meditation practice is meant to bring to you. If you are looking for relaxation, you’re going to want to find music promoting that.
Suppose you’re looking for something deeper and more spiritual you may want to choose things that have a chance or even frequencies that open up certain chakras.
In the end, deciding which music is right for you is really about enjoying your own personal likes and dislikes.
Top 5 Meditation Sounds
If you’re still looking for a little help, we thought we’d give you some options that might narrow down the field of music you want to select from. There are certain meditational sounds that a majority of people gravitate towards, and those include:
- Instrumental music, like classical
- Nature sounds
- Religious chanting, whether that be Gregorian or eastern spiritual chants
- Ambient music
- World music
Is There Any Music You Should Avoid?
The only music you should avoid is that distracts you from the purpose. That means if you get engaged in music that is upbeat or has catchy lyrics, then this is not the music to use.
Ideally, you want to use music that is going to relax you and allow your mind to concentrate on the task at hand. That is meditation and the focus on working with the meditation pillars of breathwork and understanding your feelings and thoughts in a relaxed environment.
This means staying away from noises that elicit certain emotions or maybe create a need to move. Instead, find what works for you, and that is the meditation music you should choose.
Final Thoughts on What Type of Music Should You Listen to While Meditating
Meditation through an ancient practice and with a handful of guidelines present in almost every style of meditation is still a very personal and customizable practice. That means if music is something that you need to relax, then it should be included in your meditation.
That being said, you need to also choose the appropriate music, and we hope by going over some of the information above, we’ve helped you do just that.