Haven Yoga Meditation explains binaural beats and how they are utilised during meditation.
When teaching meditation in our Brisbane studio, we often use sound healing to relax our participants during our sessions. The key to this is the creation of binaural beats. This fascinating phenomenon is incredibly beneficial and has been used in healings and meditations alike since its discovery in 1839. Keep reading to learn what these beats are, and why they are popularly used in wellness activities.
What are binaural beats?
Binaural beats are an auditory illusion that occurs when two close but slightly different frequencies are presented separately to each ear.
When the brain processes these two different frequencies, it creates a third tone, known as the binaural beat. This beat is perceived as a pulsing sound, even though it doesn’t exist as an actual sound in the external environment.
The frequency difference between the two tones determines the perceived frequency of the binaural beat. For example, if a tone of 200 Hz is played in one ear and a tone of 205 Hz is played in the other ear, the brain will generate a binaural beat with a perceived frequency of 5 Hz.
How are crystal bowls involved in creating binaural beats?
Brainwave entrainment is a technique used to synchronise brainwave activity with external stimuli, such as sound or light, to induce specific mental states. We incorporate this technique for our meditation in Brisbane, using crystal singing bowls. When played with specific frequencies, they can be used as one component of brainwave entrainment.
To create binaural beats using crystal bowls, the following steps are typically followed:
- Choose Crystal Bowl Frequencies: Each crystal bowl has a specific frequency when struck or played. For brainwave entrainment, two crystal bowls with close but slightly different frequencies are selected.
- Play the Bowls Simultaneously: The two selected crystal bowls are played simultaneously, with one bowl’s sound presented to each ear. For example, one bowl might be played through headphones on the left ear, and the other bowl on the right ear.
- Brainwave Entrainment: As the brain processes the two slightly different frequencies from the crystal bowls, it generates a binaural beat that corresponds to the frequency difference between the two bowls. This binaural beat is perceived by the listener and can influence brainwave activity, leading to a desired mental state, the Theta and Delta state experienced in meditation.
- Mindfulness and Meditation: Binaural beats created with crystal bowls are used as a tool during meditation or relaxation practices. The specific frequency of the binaural beat can be chosen to match the desired mental state, such as relaxation, focus, or deep meditation.
