What types of music do you enjoy the most: new age, classical, pop, world, or instrumental? Do you own any relaxation CDs such as sounds of the ocean, nature, waterfalls? If not, you may want to include a few in your collection. A case can be made why the sounds of nature are a great relaxation technique.
If you live in a suburban area, what is the first thing you hear in the morning when you wake up? For some, it is the symphonic chorus of birds calling to each other. If you listen closely, you can hear a repetitive pattern emerge. It is quite soothing.
Conversely, city dwellers may be exposed to garbage trucks picking up the morning trash, cars honking, sirens blasting – sounds that are not in any way conducive to starting off the day in a relaxed state.
But what if you can experience the sounds of nature simply by popping in a CD and putting on the headphones? Today, there are more CDs devoted to sounds of nature than ever before. The reason is because the noise level in our cities and towns has drowned out the sounds of nature, and the stresses of daily life seem to build up to a cacophony of endless discord.
While there are those who seek relaxation by utilizing meditative practices such as Yoga, Tai Chi, or Qi Gong, for others it is difficult to find the time. In a world where there is little time for relaxation, we look to find other ways to achieve the same effect.
During the Christmas holidays, there is a TV station that plays the Yule Log every year. One can either listen to the music or mute the sound and just nestle in a favorite chair and enjoy the fireplace on the screen. The feeling of warmth begins to envelop your being and you feel good, right?
Playing sounds of nature has a similar effect. You can lie down and listen to ocean waves hit the shore, or listen to waterfalls and imagine you are there, or hear the birds call to each other upon sunrise. Whether it’s watching a squirrel retrieve nuts hidden long ago, or witnessing fledglings take flight for the first time – there is so much life happening around us.
Nature has a way of reminding us to slow down, to bring about an inner peace and balance that nature provides. Try listening to sounds of nature, especially on those days when it seems as if there is no escape from the harsh sounds of reality.
