problems breathing

[JonW]

Meditating to music is not often mentioned but I do it regularly, as does Lord Gareth of this parish.
The key is to focus on the raw experience of notes rising and falling, and the space between notes. Obviously, some types of music lends itself to meditation more than others. As fond as I am of the Ramones' debut album, it doesn't lend itself too readily to inner stillness. That said, it is ideal for pogoing which could be construed as an alternative form of mindful movement.
Here's a link to an older thread which contains many good recommendations for meditation music, most of which is easily accessible via YouTube.
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=3874&hilit=music
Happy listening,
Jon The Punk

[piedwagtail91]

i've recently started to use music, i found it a bit alien at first but think i understand it better now.
silence in the music can 'sound' quite powerful.
i found some intrumental my chemical romance that i use

slightly off topic, though following jons lead, i was recently 'forced' into 'mindful movement to music', something i've never done in my life.

that'll teach me to teach those a lot younger than i am
mick, the sometimes goth/ sometimes emo

[hammill1969]

I listen to the guided meditations with headphones usually, if I listen to them without headphones I wil be able to hear more sounds ,if I open the window I can hear birds singing too. I will try this, turn the auto pilot off and try something different.

[JonW]

It's worth bearing in mind that you only need to keep using the guided meditation CDs until you feel comfortable without them. They are extremely useful at the beginning. I ditched most of them after about four months of practice though I still use them for body scans.
As part of my teaching course I've begun recording my own. That's been one of the most nerve-racking experiences of my life, not least because the rest of the class have to critique them.
I always assumed Mick was a teddy boy. My Chemical Romance? I think I'd sooner meditate to a road drill.
Jon

[piedwagtail91]

i'm not old enough to be a teddy boy!
i listen to anything really.

[hammill1969]

I need to turn the auto pilot off and try different things. I will open the window and hear the sounds. I find it difficult not to judge the sounds as pleasant (birds singing), unpleasant (traffic) but will give it a go. I also meditate lying down on the whole so I need to learn to meditate sat down.

[piedwagtail91]

you can practice lying down, it doesn't make any difference - except maybe the possibility of falling asleep!
i used to practice whilst lying on the bedroom floor in the sunshine just listening, hearing all the sounds on the park. even the sounds of the 'rowdy' pensioners playing bowls!

being with sounds is just another way of accepting without judging things as pleasant/unpleasant, like /dislike.
it takes practice.
being with sounds that you don't like (just a thought?) teaches acceptance and patience rather than judgement and frustration, both handy qualities in potentially difficult situations.

[piedwagtail91]

"My Chemical Romance? I think I'd sooner meditate to a road drill. "

a road drill practice can be quite rewarding - especially when it stops

"As part of my teaching course I've begun recording my own. That's been one of the most nerve-racking experiences of my life, not least because the rest of the class have to critique them. "

ditto!
we had to lead practices 'live' for our training , i've never liked the recordings that i've made since.
but we recorded live for the course which we ran late last year which did cause me some anxiety.
but it was what they wanted so it was what they got and no one will hear those other than the group.

[Matt Y]

Listening to sounds is definitely worth trying. It's a great alternative to the breath. And it's quite normal to find yourself judging the sounds (pleasant or unpleasant), particularly at first. There's no need to try and stop yourself making these judgments. Just notice them, then listen again, with curiosity to the sounds. Appreciate the different directions from which sounds arise; the different pitches, and the unique tonal qualities and timbres of each sound. Notice the subtones and variations over time. Almost any sound can be relaxing: traffic noise, the hum of an air-conditioner, heater, fridge or computer, birds chirping, dogs barking, the wind rustling through leaves...

And yes, it is good to persist, (experiment) with focusing on the breath too. Many anxious people find focusing on the breath triggers anxiety (or panic), probably because they associate anxiety with changes in breathing patterns. But over time, getting familiar with the breath can be very helpful. It's worth remembering that the breath can't kill you! In fact, it's keeping you alive, even when it's short or shallow. It can be useful to focus on it indirectly; for example, by noticing how the ribs or spine move as you breathe, or by imagining the breath as waves gently lapping on a beach. It's usually best to try and let the breath be natural. Let the body breathe for you. The more you try to control it (either by holding it, trying to create a pause between each breath or making it slower or smoother), the more difficult and uncomfortable it may become. It can however, be useful to think of allowing the exhalation to be slightly longer, softer, slower and more subtle than usual.

[Gareth]

Yes, I use sound-based meditation a lot; it seems very natural to me.

Sometimes I put on headphones and listen to an ambient album, sometimes I just sit down and listen to the noises around me. I like to keep a count of all the different sounds I've heard. It keeps me really actively listening; it's amazing what you can hear when you really listen.