Alpha Meditation To Harness Your Mind Power

In this guide, we look at how to do Alpha Meditation to access alpha state of mind 

This meditation is immense. 

Science shows that meditative practices increase alpha brainwaves. And that’s a good thing these brainwaves promote calmness and productivity.

But there’s so much more to Alpha meditation.

For starters, it is one of the best types of meditation for concentration. The flow state that you enter into helps you take in and remember information, which is why it is fantastic for studying. Plus, it is also one of the best types of meditation for relaxation.

As a meditation teacher, I’ve taught Alpha meditation to many people. And I’ve found that understanding and using different brain states can make an enormous difference in our lives.  

How To Do Alpha Meditation Technique

1. Sit somewhere quiet and relaxing. Place your feet shoulder-width apart. Make sure your spine is straight but relaxed. Slightly lower your chin to elongate your neck.  
2. Ground yourself. To do this, inhale deeply through the nose and release any stress. And breathe out through your mouth.
3. Focus on your breathing. Proper breathing is deep and diaphragmatic. But you don’t have to force this. You will naturally start breathing deeply once you’ve been meditating for a few minutes.
4. Continue meditating on your breath until your heart rate has slowed.
5. As you relax and let go of stress, you will gradually begin to increase alpha brain waves. T 
6. Visualize a mental picture of the number 3 three times, then repeat with the number 2 and finally 1.
7. Now visualize yourself in a relaxing environment, somewhere divine and serene. Visualize this area in detail.
8. Hear it.
9. Feel it.
10. Touch it.
11. Taste it.
12. You should feel as though you are actually inside this visualization. Stay here for at least ten minutes (or fifty-four breaths).
13. Count from 5 to 1 and open your eyes. You have now accessed the alpha state of mind.

Notes  

You will find this technique very relaxing, and it will help you to process information, which is beneficial to both work and personal life.

Note that there are many types of meditation for alpha state of mind. Most deep breathing meditative exercises will put you in the same state. One especially good method is “Open Monitoring Meditation”, where the mind is not focused on any one thing but instead is open to our present environment. 

Effects

Use Alpha meditation when you want a relaxed but productive state of mind. For instance, if you are doing a creative endeavor like painting the house and you want to be productive while also being relaxed. That’s a great time to access alpha mind power.

It can help with studying too. Some scientific research suggests that it improves memory. So, you might like to use it when you’re training for your exams. 

Ultimately, look for times when a relaxed but productive state of mind would be ideal. Use it at those times. 

Science shows that it works

Scientific research shows that specific meditation techniques can indeed increase alpha brainwaves [3].

Research from The Norwegian University of Science and Technology shows that Alpha brainwaves increase in the posterior parts of the brain during meditation. 

The researchers state that “This wave type has been used as a universal sign of relaxation during meditation and other types of rest…  these waves increase when the brain relaxes from intentional, goal-oriented tasks. This is a sign of deep relaxation…”

The researchers state that meditation makes us more aware of the spontaneous wandering of the mind. Apparently, this mind-wandering helps the brain to connect different kinds of mental processing and experiences and improves our sense of perspective.   

Understanding Alpha State of Mind

The human mind is one of the most amazing and sophisticated machines in the universe. And that’s especially true when you learn to tap into your subconscious mind power.

When you know how to use your mind properly, you gain immense strength.

Writing for Scientific American, Ned Herrmann, the “father of brain dominance technology”, says that when we understand the brainwaves we can use their strengths. This means “being mentally productive across a wide range of activities, such as being intensely focused, relaxed, creative, and in restful sleep.” 

The brain is constantly alive with electrical activity according to the University of Queensland. Neuron cells send electrical signals to other neurons, and this produces brain waves. You can see those brain waves if you look at an EEG (electroencephalogram), which is when a lab technician places electrodes on the scalp that send the brain’s electrical activity to a machine.

It’s good to understand the different brain waves. So let’s take a look at them.

Different brain wave frequencies

There are five frequencies of brain waves. Alpha is in the middle of those five.

According to Herrmann, “Alpha represents non-arousal. These brainwaves are slower, and higher in amplitude.” That’s why Alpha is a good middle-ground resting state. Incidentally, it is also the first of the brain waves to be discovered. German psychiatrist Hans Berger discovered it after he invented the EEG.

When we talk about “states of mind” we are talking about the frequency of brainwave signals. There are different frequencies, with the main five being Beta, Alpha, Delta, Theta, and Gamma.

The brainwave frequencies:

• Gamma (38-42)
• Beta (13-38)
•  Alpha (8-12)
• Theta (4-8)
• Delta (0-4). [1]

The human mind naturally switches from one dominant brain wave to another at various times of day, depending on what we are doing.

What is Alpha Mind?

Alpha mind is the term that scientists use to describe right-brain activity, which is mostly associated with creativity, imagination, memory, and intuition [2]. 

According to Herrmann, it occurs at a brainwave frequency of between 8 and 12 Hz. It’s characterized by relaxed consciousness. It’s a great state of mind when you’re absorbing information.    

Although the brain naturally switches between mind states throughout the day, we can learn to deliberately induce these states through various techniques.

What is the best brain wave frequency for meditation?

Some of my students have asked me what the best brain wave frequencies for meditation are. It depends. There are benefits of each brain wave frequency. The slower ones are for resting and healing. The faster ones are for concentration and productivity. So, as you can see, it really depends on what you want to get out of meditation.

What does alpha state of mind feel like?

The best way to describe Alpha state of mind is “Wakeful”.  It feels like a natural and easy state of mind. When you’re in this mind state you’re relaxed and feel restful. But at the same time, you are also able to focus enough to complete tasks. Basically, it feels like “Easy mode”.

Have you ever been driving your car at night when you’re relaxed and driving safely but at the same time you feel like you’re just chilling? Or have you ever been reading a book when you drift away in it? You’re still conscious, but you’re not aware of what’s happening around you, you’re simply engrossed in the book? Perhaps you’ve been doing a creative pursuit like painting a work of art when you start to feel incredibly relaxed while still being productive. That’s alpha mind power.

According to Herrmann, Alpha occurs at a brainwave frequency of between 8 and 12 Hz and is characterized by relaxed consciousness. It’s a great state of mind when you’re absorbing information.  Hence, it’s ideal for studying.

It’s healing too. It’s a state in which the brain is more relaxed and there is next to no stress. This gives the body an opportunity to focus on what it does best: Healing itself. 

Benefits of alpha state of mind:

• Healing (although it should be noted that Delta brain waves are better for this). 
• Relaxing (Theta, however, may be better for deep relaxation)
• Reduces stress and anxiety (a 2014 study revealed that people with Generalised Anxiety Disorder can find calmness by increasing Alpha waves via neurofeedback, a form of biofeedback in which you voluntarily attempt to adjust your brainwaves). 
• Excellent for resting
• Increases creativity
• Helps to filter out distractions
• Good for studying (though the faster frequencies, beta and gamma, are considered better for studying). 
• Depression: A 2019 study showed that a brain stimulation technique called transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) can decrease depression by boosting alpha brain waves. 

Paul Harrison

Paul Harrison is a passionate meditation teacher who believes in genuine, authentic meditation. He has more than 15 years experience in meditation and mindfulness. He studied meditation in beautiful Oxford, UK, and Hamilton Ontario Canada, and earned his degree at Staffordshire University.

“My goal is to provide the most authentic meditation sessions so you can harness the power of your own mind for personal transformation” – Paul Harrison