I went to hear a friend of mine play at a little Nashville jazz club. It was good to sit there for a couple of hours, listening, fully immersed in the music… It was meditative really, as the mind anchors around notes that it tries to follow.
Anchoring the mind actually helps to slow down the activity of the brain.
How does this work?
You can anchor your mind on your breath, a mantra, a sound, or something visual (like the flame of a candle). Whatever it is, you bring your awareness to it and let all other thoughts, feelings, and sensations come and pass without you engaging with them. You let them fade into the background without judging, analyzing, or attaching to them emotionally.
Eventually, the mind settles into the stillness and you feel yourself relaxing into that beautiful, calm, ‘rest & digest’ state of being. It’s that “be still and know I am God” place, where all is well and we feel safe, loved, and connected.
I personally practice silent mantra meditation daily (20 minutes in the morning, and 5-15 minutes in the late afternoon) and find it to be an incredible tool, and a foundation of well-being.
This practice has helped me to notice other opportunities for mental/ emotional rest, and also become aware of what triggers mental and emotional activity.
Which brings me back to jazz.
Improv jazz and classical music like Bach and Mozart are meditative for me. But not Tchaikovsky or Brahms. Those trigger too many emotions, images and memories.
See the difference?
The music of Bach (baroque style) and Mozart (classical style) is rhythmic and steady. I can anchor my mind on the moving notes which, unlike Tchaikovsky and Brahms don’t usually swell up, slow down, and develop into big passionate music phrases which inevitably activate my memory banks, pull out emotions, and sometimes trigger creativity keeping me more mentally and emotionally engaged. Improv jazz vs. Frank Sinatra kind of jazz is similar. Frank transports me into all kinds of imaginary worlds. LOL
I went to hear a friend of mine play at a little Nashville jazz club. It was good to sit there for a couple of hours, listening, fully immersed in the music… It was meditative really, as the mind anchors around notes that it tries to follow.
Anchoring the mind actually helps to slow down the activity of the brain.
How does this work?
You can anchor your mind on your breath, a mantra, a sound, or something visual (like the flame of a candle). Whatever it is, you bring your awareness to it and let all other thoughts, feelings, and sensations come and pass without you engaging with them. You let them fade into the background without judging, analyzing, or attaching to them emotionally.
Eventually, the mind settles into the stillness and you feel yourself relaxing into that beautiful, calm, ‘rest & digest’ state of being. It’s that “be still and know I am God” place, where all is well and we feel safe, loved, and connected.
I personally practice silent mantra meditation daily (20 minutes in the morning, and 5-15 minutes in the late afternoon) and find it to be an incredible tool, and a foundation of well-being.
This practice has helped me to notice other opportunities for mental/ emotional rest, and also become aware of what triggers mental and emotional activity.
Which brings me back to jazz.
Improv jazz and classical music like Bach and Mozart are meditative for me. But not Tchaikovsky or Brahms. Those trigger too many emotions, images and memories.
See the difference?
The music of Bach (baroque style) and Mozart (classical style) is rhythmic and steady. I can anchor my mind on the moving notes which, unlike Tchaikovsky and Brahms don’t usually swell up, slow down, and develop into big passionate music phrases which inevitably activate my memory banks, pull out emotions, and sometimes trigger creativity keeping me more mentally and emotionally engaged. Improv jazz vs. Frank Sinatra kind of jazz is similar. Frank transports me into all kinds of imaginary worlds. LOL
Another example:
This past week I went for my monthly massage (this is part of guilt-free self-care as recommended by my physician, my therapist, my wellbeing coach, my mom, and my own heart). As a well-being coach, I highly recommend it to you too!
The place I go to is very calming for all five senses. The fragrance of white tea is calming, the light is dimmed (therefore calming), the colors of the walls are warm neutrals (also calming). They offer you a glass of cucumber water when you walk in (its cooling and hydrating properties calm my always rushing energy).
All of this prepares you for the calming touch of the massage therapist (at least I always pick the calming and relaxing massage, not an invigorating one). And the soundtrack they play is of the calming ocean waves…
“Our ocean is down today,” my massage therapist informed me as I walked in. I noticed the soothing instrumental music right away. As I laid down, I took a breath. Usually, I anchor my mind on the sounds of the ocean waves and, for an hour, I am free of worry, racing thoughts, and to-do lists.
The sound of the ocean waves is one of the primordial sounds which our body/ mind recognizes as the basic vibrations of nature.
The music was beautiful (and calming), but my mind was picking up the melodies and the arrangements, engaging my spirit and my emotions. Immediately, instead of calming, a wave of creative thoughts appeared.
“How was your session?” Asked my therapist when she handed me lemon water (to re-energize me for the day ahead).
“Inspiring” I said with a smile.
I share this with you to illustrate the difference between meditation that calms the mind (slows down the activity of the brain and takes us to the quieter levels of our being) and meditation that inspires.
Both are great. 🙂
We need the calming stillness that helps the body take a break from the chronic low-grade stress of our fast-paced, noisy world. Taking a few minutes each day to practice this stillness has many health benefits.
It helps our digestion and our immunity. It lowers blood pressure. It helps with anxiety and so much more.
Taking a few minutes to access this quieter level of being before sleep helps you sleep better. And you know how important sleep is for health 🙂
There is a similar difference between contemplative, meditative prayer and petitioning prayer. In contemplative, we rest in God, our mind and heart are surrendered, our body simply breathing, and our soul deeply connected without us doing anything. In petitioning, we are actively engaged – with our mind and heart.
What are some of the ways you can get still this week? And inspired?
Another example:
This past week I went for my monthly massage (this is part of guilt-free self-care as recommended by my physician, my therapist, my wellbeing coach, my mom, and my own heart). As a well-being coach, I highly recommend it to you too!
The place I go to is very calming for all five senses. The fragrance of white tea is calming, the light is dimmed (therefore calming), the colors of the walls are warm neutrals (also calming). They offer you a glass of cucumber water when you walk in (its cooling and hydrating properties calm my always rushing energy).
All of this prepares you for the calming touch of the massage therapist (at least I always pick the calming and relaxing massage, not an invigorating one). And the soundtrack they play is of the calming ocean waves…
“Our ocean is down today,” my massage therapist informed me as I walked in. I noticed the soothing instrumental music right away. As I laid down, I took a breath. Usually, I anchor my mind on the sounds of the ocean waves and, for an hour, I am free of worry, racing thoughts, and to-do lists.
The sound of the ocean waves is one of the primordial sounds which our body/ mind recognizes as the basic vibrations of nature.
The music was beautiful (and calming), but my mind was picking up the melodies and the arrangements, engaging my spirit and my emotions. Immediately, instead of calming, a wave of creative thoughts appeared.
“How was your session?” Asked my therapist when she handed me lemon water (to re-energize me for the day ahead).
“Inspiring” I said with a smile.
I share this with you to illustrate the difference between meditation that calms the mind (slows down the activity of the brain and takes us to the quieter levels of our being) and meditation that inspires.
Both are great. 🙂
We need the calming stillness that helps the body take a break from the chronic low-grade stress of our fast-paced, noisy world. Taking a few minutes each day to practice this stillness has many health benefits.
It helps our digestion and our immunity. It lowers blood pressure. It helps with anxiety and so much more.
Taking a few minutes to access this quieter level of being before sleep helps you sleep better. And you know how important sleep is for health 🙂
There is a similar difference between contemplative, meditative prayer and petitioning prayer. In contemplative, we rest in God, our mind and heart are surrendered, our body simply breathing, and our soul deeply connected without us doing anything. In petitioning, we are actively engaged – with our mind and heart.
What are some of the ways you can get still this week? And inspired?
Song
Here is a Mozart piece you’ve heard before. It is calming and mind-anchoring for me. How is it for you? What do you notice when you listen to it?
Here is a Mozart piece you’ve heard before. It is definitely calming and mind-anchoring for me. How is it for you? What do you notice when you listen to it?
Music to inspire and well-being coaching to
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Music to inspire and well-being coaching to
help you live a balanced and thriving life.
Get weekly emails, exclusive content. special offers and
event updates directly to your inbox.