Learn about the profound changes that we can access as epigenetic changes in our physical body, mind, emotions, and spiritual connections with curated sound healing in this latest video. The blog with more details and references is available soon.
What is the definition of meditation and its relationship to sound healing and epigenetics?
Meditation is a broad term for different ancient practices that shift our consciousness from the ordinary waking state, releasing the outer objective world and tuning into our inner realm. Using specific sounds with particular patterns, tones, and rhythms as a system is an ancient meditation method of sound healing. The benefits of effective meditation, also known as shifting from ordinary consciousness into a relaxed and heightened state, are significant for our physical body, mind, emotions, and spirit. When we regularly access restorative meditation states there is an exponential positive impact that enhances and energizes our being at all levels and improves overall health. Later I will give you the specific areas that are improved by the regular practice of using effective practices that transform our consciousness.
The Transforming Characteristics to Identify Effective Meditation
When we listen to certain frequencies, sound and music patterns these carry us into a receptive state called the Relaxation Response. This is the meditative state. When we are in the Relaxation Response there are simultaneous positive changes in brain waves, heart rate, and respiration. In curated sound listening another element that makes accessing this state of receptivity easy is becoming entrained or resonant with the sound patterns. When we are in resonance with the exterior sound patterns they change our responses internally which is entrainment. The entrainment allows us to synchronize with the rhythms and patterns simply by listening. This resonance lasts until the composition is complete. The specific outer sound patterns hold the listener in this restorative and resonant space as a reliable and consistent experience to get all the amazing benefits of meditation because accessing and sustaining the connection is easy, all you have to do is listen.
How Curated Sound and Epigenetics Go Together
Epigenetics is Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity is the ability to grow new neurons in the brain and new neuropathways and synapses in the neurological system that are the result of stimulus. (Stimulus is the key here and will connect to curated sound healing below). This ability is how we learn, create memory, recover from injury, and adapt to environmental changes. We are able to grow new neurons, create neuroplasticity and contribute to epigenetic positive changes!
Prior to understanding how we can influence, access, and positively change our epigenetic response, we were doomed with repression about how our parents and grandparents illnesses predetermined our propensity towards their physical and mental illnesses as expectations and limitations for our entire life. Simultaneously it was thought human beings did not have the capacity to learn or change after our brain physically developed! This perspective meant we were limited to an early age of growth and could not go beyond that stage. This perspective also influenced our recovery and healing and our thoughts and expectations as well. Now we know neuroplasticity is continuous when we engage in specific activities and behaviors throughout our lifetime. Keep listening to discover more about these activities and behaviors.
Epigenetics
Epigenetics, according to the Center for Disease Control “is the study of how your behaviors and environment can cause changes that affect the way your genes work. Unlike genetic changes, epigenetic changes are reversible and do not change your DNA sequence, but they can change how your body reads a DNA sequence”. The key above is the statement “epigenetics changes are reversible” and “they can change how your body reads a DNA sequence”. The epi part of the word ‘epigenetics’ means above the genetic responses. Epigenetics means we can address the governing system of our being which has the ability to interface with the body’s responses to negative triggers before they are triggered! Think of it as the software that runs on our genetic hardware. Epigenetic changes are like switches that can turn genes on or off. The exciting part is that we can influence these epigenetic changes through our behaviors, we activate switches that affect how our genes respond and change our responses to stress and inflammation!
We can change how our overriding systems responds to traumas, negative thoughts, and negative environmental experiences because there is an overriding, higher-level system we can not only access, but develop, deepening our connection to, and heightening its functioning.
Epigenetic responses occur above the way our genes respond to stress and trauma. This means the activities and behaviors that are listed in this video/blog are methods that change the responses that lead to mental and physical disease, instead of releasing cortisol the stress hormone that creates inflammation. Healing trauma and stress is key. Practices that change our responses that have been held in the neurological system from the past changes the trajectory of degradation of our system. And these same practices continue to change our responses to the stressors when we incorporate the curated sound healing practices into our regular routine of life.
Changing Our Responses to Stressors
Epigenetics is the ability to change our responses to stressors, traumas, and negative thought patterns. Our previous immediate response to these challenging influences binds us to deal with the symptom instead of going to the master system. Recognizing the governing system, the epigenetic system, is the first step in knowing we can create substantial change within all systems by stimulating, and sustaining positive influential energy that impacts our physical body, mind and thoughts, emotions and spirit. The next step is having a method to access the governing epigenetic system. And that is what this blog is about.
Many current Western medicine interventions only are directed at one part of us, treating the symptom of our mind and thoughts, or our physical body. Going above the symptoms to influencing the overarching responses activates capabilities that have remained untapped to date. Connecting to and developing our relationship with the governing epigenetic system is a transformational dynamic ability that changes our mental and physical health outcomes and simultaneously expands our awareness developing creativity, insight, resilience, and problem-solving.
What are the Effects of Epigenetic Practices
A component of using regular practices that shift our consciousness into restorative alpha brain waves, accessing the Relaxation Response, and positive changes in our heart rate and respiration are listed below.
Telomere lengthening. The telomeres are at the end of our DNA and show the wear and tear of stress, environmental exposures, how we take care of ourselves, behaviors, and what we consume. When we practice sound healing meditation methods there is lengthening of telomeres instead of wear and tear.
Immune system support. A component of using regular practices that shift our consciousness into restorative alpha brain waves the immune system is boosted. This is the opposite of how stress contributes to erosion of our immune system. This creates more physical resilience.
Brain health-reduction in inflammation. The presence of inflammation is the underlying condition to depression, anxiety and list of physical and mental illnesses. When we engage in practices of sound healing meditation we are diminishing the production of cortisol and increasing dopamine, and serotine the feel-good chemicals. These changes also benefit the release of trauma in the neurological system. There is an improvement in cognitive function, memory, focus, and performance. There is also improvement for people who have pain which include lessening of pain, control over pain instead of pain having control, and lessening of depression with pain.
Mental and emotional wellbeing. Our thoughts and mood are influenced by our stress, trauma exposure, the food we eat and the nutritional content or lack of nutrition, social relationships, and exercise. When we access the Relaxation Response and alpha brain waves that also changes our breathing and heart rate there is a release of dopamine and serotonin. This release lessens the production of the stress hormone, cortisol, which also lessens depression and anxiety and at the same time produces the feel-good chemicals that create mental and emotional regulation.
Build Resilience. Resilience is the ability to navigate successfully through challenging times and upheaval. Resilience is also inner strength and the ability to solve problems. Components of resilience that may be considered more advanced are insight development and intuition. Intuition is a deep part of trust and knowing.
Activities and Behaviors that Change Our Responses and Activate Epigenetic Responses for Healing, Restoration, and Evolution
The following areas are likely activities and choices you know well. These areas contribute to the changes in our body’s response to what we encounter in our lives. Following this list are significant activities that trigger and change our pineal gland and the production of melatonin that boosts the immune system and serotonin and dopamine, the feel-good chemicals.
Food consumption. When we consume a healthy nutrition intake through the food and beverages we consume we are providing one of the areas for our health and wellness. But what I have learned is that often there are very different ideas of what is healthy food. Generally it is avoiding fast foods, junk food, and processed foods. That means food pre-prepared and packaged is often full of excess sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats. This includes prepared frozen foods, canned foods, and packaged foods. This then requires label reading since not all frozen or canned food have sugar, fats, excess alt in them. Other areas of consideration in food and nutrition consumption are deficiencies that are common that most people don’t know about that are underlying causes of depression and some physical illness. An example is lack of Vitamin D.
Exercise. Regular moderate exercise like walking is beneficial for people in many different ways. When we are moving our body we are also increasing circulation in our cardiovascular system and increasing joint lubrication. When we are outside in nature when we are hiking, walking, skating, moving we are connecting with the elements and sensory experiences. Noticing the air against our skin, the temperature, the sounds, and odors, the colors, the movement of the clouds and trees, and the wildlife are all components that connect us with nature and boost our mood. Often people find getting into nature is connecting to their inner spirituality as well. An example is Japanese researchers have identified Forst bathing as a significant method for releasing stress and restoring inner connection. Walking amongst the trees brings a sense of calm and the release of the essential oils on the forest floor invigorates the senses.
Social Connections. One of the key areas is for human beings is to stay connected through positive social connections. Positive social connections provide a vital area of our lives as human beings and especially in-person social connection. Social interactions with people as simple as a greeting can be more meaningful that we know for people. When people experience trauma, discrimination and difficult interactions with society and social systems there is a negative impact which contributes to stress.
Stress Reduction. Stress is a common component of most people’s lives and is compounded when there is an experience of trauma from 0-18 years old. Other areas of stress and trauma can occur from families and from generations and with social and systems of discrimination. Stress can be repeated over time as smaller consistent stressors and can also be a single large trauma, or multiple smaller traumas that is erosive to our mental and physical health and well being.
Stress and trauma produce cortisol that is lodged in the neurological system. Other elements of stress are the production of cortisol the stress hormone which produces inflammation. Inflammation is the major contributor to addiction, lack of good sleep, depression, anxiety, and common physical diseases like heart disease (the leading cause of death), cancer, diabetes, immune compromised illness, schizophrenia, bi-polar, dementia, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s. As you can see these are the most prevalent concerns of our time. The emphasis on reducing stress through practices that release them from our system is vital.
Stress Reduction, and Rhythm and Resonance Components of Curated Sound Healing
One of the key ways that we connect to stress reduction is through accessing meditative states, however many people have found meditation to be challenging or difficult to sustain. Intrusive thoughts that are interruptive often give people the feeling they cannot meditate or get the benefits of meditation. People find curated sound healing meditation effortless because the specific sound patterns allow the listener to easily follow along and focus on the composition, the rhythm, patterns, and tones, instead of their intrusive thoughts. If there is an intrusive thought, which happens usually in the beginning before the person has shifted out of ordinary consciousness, the person easily returns their awareness to the sound patterns and instantly connects into the rhythm and resonance.
The Characteristics of Curated Sound Healing that Connect to Epigenetic Responses
The following characteristics of transformative curated sound healing compositions give you content about what to expect and how the listening practice unfolds
- Regular connection to listening to curated sound healing compositions provides significant positive change. It is not a system to use once in awhile. Consistently accessing healing changes in our neurological system deepens and expands over time and is exponential.
- The amount of time to spend each time is approximately 20 minutes a day or longer.
- The amount of time to access the changes in respiration, heart rate, and brain waves can vary depending on the circumstances and the familiarity with the practice. Shifting from ordinary consciousness into alpha or deeper states can take only a moment, through a few breaths or around 10 minutes.
- With consistent use our body restores itself and gets all the benefits.
- It is not a one-time intervention, but a lifestyle change that incorporates the curated sound listening as a regular meditation practice.
- Inviting others to share the same curated sound healing listening experience. Another person who is not disruptive but supports and also benefits from sharing the experience can have exponential benefits. There is a shared resonance and calmness through the entrainment process. Ancient cultures drew upon specific rhythms and patterns innately knowing they are transformative and access healing states and these practices were used with groups of people.
- Key Element! Learning to experience, feel, and connect to the Relaxation Response where we release stress is the key and is easily felt, remembered, and even deepened. The feeling we get is noticeable and often subtle at first because we are learning to notice it and notice how it feels. The more familiar we are with the feeling the easier it is to access.
Empowering Epigenetics and Curated Sound Healing
We have the power to change our responses to our environment through the practices outlined above that are easy to do. When we engage in easy to use curated sound listening we can allow our neurological system to release trauma responses, stress and inflammation. We can also get better sleep, gain more emotional and mental balance, and boost our immune system. Besides these benefits we are deepening our inner connection to our personal spiritual wisdom. This process helps us to develop our compassion and deter mental and physical illness. We have the ability to connect to the epigenetic system that is non-pharmaceutical and non-invasive that heightens our awareness as an act of empowerment for our evolution!
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