When Life Gives You Beta, Massage Offers Theta

Many clients arrive at my office in a slightly or more than slightly stressed state. This state in brainwave terms is called Beta. Beta allows you to adapt to and function in the modern world. However, when you spend very little time outside of Beta, it can lead to over the long term stress sensitivity,  emotional issues, premature aging, illness, insomnia, hormonal imbalance, and increased likelihood of chronic pain.


These are your different kinds of brain waves:

• Gamma - (30-100Hz cycles per second) this newly discovered brain wave is associated with peak concentration or “in the Zone” feeling. Other experiences in gamma include excellent memory, self-control, high concentration, heightened sensory perception, sensitivity, speed, peace, focus and bursts of insight.
  
• Beta – oscillating at the highest frequencies (14 to 38 cycles per second), beta waves occur when we are most active and engaged: problem solving, multi-tasking, organizing, conversing and active thinking. Beta brain waves are associated with normal waking consciousness and a heightened state of alertness, logic and critical reasoning. As you go about your daily activities you are at Beta. Although important for effectively functioning in everyday life, higher Beta levels translate into stress, anxiety and restlessness. With the majority of adults primarily operating at Beta during their waking hours it is little wonder that stress is today's most common health problem. Beta is your monkey mind, which becomes louder and more relentless the higher you go in the range.
• Alpha – (8 to 13 cycles per second) these waves happen when we are calm and relaxed, yet focused. Staying in this meditative yet alert state takes practice in our hectic, stressful world. Alpha brain waves are present in deep relaxation with the eyes usually closed and while day-dreaming. The relaxed detached awareness achieved during light meditation is characteristic of Alpha and is optimal for programming your mind for success. Alpha heightens your imagination, visualization, memory, learning and concentration. It lies at the base of your conscious awareness and is the gateway to your subconscious mind. The voice of Alpha is your intuition, which becomes clearer and more profound the closer you get to 7.5Hz.
• Theta – (4 to 7 cps) during a massage, when you begin to sense the music is distant and your awareness drifts, this is known as the theta state. Most mind/body connections occur here and it is believed to be the still point where most healing happens on a deep, cellular level. Theta brain waves are present during deep meditation and light sleep, including the REM dream state. Theta is the realm of your subconscious mind. It is also known as the twilight state as it is normally only momentarily experienced as you drift off to sleep (from Alpha) and arise from deep sleep (from Delta). A sense of deep spiritual connection and oneness with the Universe can be experienced at Theta. Vivid visualizations, great inspiration, profound creativity, exceptional insight as well as your mind's most deep-seated programs are all at Theta.
• Delta – (0.1 to 4 cycles per second) this is deep space for the mind — all sensations in the physical realm are ignored. The Delta frequency is the slowest and is present in deep, dreamless sleep and in very deep, transcendental meditation where awareness is completely detached. Delta is the realm of your unconscious mind. It is the gateway to the Universal mind and the collective unconscious whereby information received is otherwise unavailable at the conscious level. Delta is associated with deep healing and regeneration, underlining the importance of deep sleep to the healing process.

Massage is proven in studies to help move you into deeper states of consciousness. How deep depends on where the client is starting from, what type of bodywork, how its delivered, and the consciousness state of the therapist. While it may not be easy to go from Beta to Delta in an hour, even getting to Alpha or some Theta is very healing for the nervous system and the whole body. During waking life, these states are rarer and rarer these days with so much stimulation, demands and fast paced lifestyles.

I do relaxation sessions, called Restorative Bodywork, in a very slow and meditative fashion to maximize your time in Theta if possible. The slowness of the massage strokes, acupressure and craniosacral unwinding in particular facilitate more Alpha and Theta, occasionally Delta. I use a calming atmosphere, voice, and theta inducing music to help you go even deeper.

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How can you get to deeper states of consciousness on your own?

• Slow down
• Try not to multitask
• Listen to relaxing music
• Do things that relax without much stimulation like taking a nap in nature, baths, long walks, star gazing, making art, regular kite flying, surfing.
  
• Meditate in silence or with a guided meditation or hypnosis
• Do slow yin yoga or restorative yoga
• Do slow breathing exercises
• Some repetitive tasks can be meditative. My favorite when I was younger was shucking peas.
• Chant mantras or sign kirtan