Are you stressed out about your home or work life? Or maybe you’re just feeling down on yourself in general?
There’s a chance that your body isn’t producing enough serotonin, a hormone that influences your mood and is related to the release of dopamine into the body. You may have heard of dopamine, nicknamed “the feel-good hormone”? Established neuroscience informs us that these two neurotransmitters, serotonin and dopamine, interact to support many functions of a healthy body, including your mood.
So what can you do about that?
Surprisingly, research evidence shows that practicing meditation may help you increase mood-altering hormones like serotonin and dopamine. And one of the easiest forms of meditation to learn is called Brain Wave Vibration meditation.
Keep reading as we explain how Brain Wave Vibration works, some of its benefits, and how to practice this kind of meditation.
Brain Wave Vibration (BWV) is a form of meditation developed by Body & Brain Yoga Tai Chi founder Ilchi Lee, who introduced it to the U.S. in his book of the same name. This practice is meant to clear the mind and help return the brain to a relaxed and energized state. Its beneficial effects have been the subject of scientific research in Korea (more about this, below), and it is often included in Body & Brain classes today.
Brain Wave Vibration is very easy to learn, beginning with turning your head left and right. Lee theorizes that by shaking your head from side to side, a “phenomenon of integration” takes place in the brain: the left and right hemispheres become integrated horizontally, while there is also a vertical integration of the three-tiered structure of the brain, composed of the:
The goal of Brain Wave Vibration, as in many forms of meditation, is for the cascade of thoughts and emotions to subside, making way for a feeling of calm well-being. In BWV, the intent is for the vital energy of the brain stem to become amplified, and an awareness of your own body rhythm and vital energy to develop throughout the body.
Because Brain Wave Vibration is so simple, anyone can practice it easily at any time and in a variety of settings. Even practicing for just a few minutes here and there can be beneficial.
If you want a more intensive Brain Wave Vibration session, try our Body & Brain Rhythm & Vibration Class. In addition to basic BWV head rocking, you’ll explore more active vibration practices like body shaking, free-form dance, body tapping, and other energizing techniques to release tension and awaken your vitality. It’s the perfect class if you’re looking to move, sweat, and leave with a smile.
The basic idea of BWV is to relax both the mind and body through natural rhythmic movements. This type of movement can help quiet the thinking mind and soothe emotions — much like a mother rocking a baby — and bring more awareness to the body. It is a dynamic meditation method used to manage stressful or negative thinking habits, and improve your sense of being present.
Brain Wave Vibration meditation was the subject of a research study funded by the Korean Ministry of Science and Technology. It was designed to assess the association between stress, positive affect, and catecholamine levels (including dopamine) in meditation and control groups. The meditation group consisted of 67 subjects who regularly engaged in BWV mind-body training, and the control group consisted of 57 other healthy subjects.
The study concluded that people who practiced meditation using Brain Wave Vibration exhibited less stress and higher levels of mood-altering dopamine in stressful situations, compared to a control group.
According to the study, the participants in the meditation group who practiced BMV were able to respond more positively, even during stressful situations. Their stress hormone levels indicated better stress management skills and a faster capacity to shift from a negative attitude to a positive one despite stress.
Specifically, the control group demonstrated that the stress they experienced brought their mood down, whereas the meditation group showed that stress exerted less influence on how they felt. The researchers observed that the Brain Wave Vibration meditation method seemed to train the sympathetic nervous system to regulate and reduce stress.
Other studies that produced positive conclusions about BWV meditation include the following:
Brain Wave Vibration is a form of moving meditation, which can be easier for people who have trouble sitting still or experience body pain when seated for long periods. Research shows that moving forms of meditation can be as effective as meditation seated or lying down.
The rhythmic movement can also help slow down brain waves. Your brain’s awareness levels can drop below the logical, executive parts of the brain to the subconscious. Practicing slowing down brain waves through meditation can have many benefits.
Shaking and/or tapping the body also helps you feel the vital energy within you moving. By practicing this kind of vibration, you may experience a sense of negative thoughts and emotions releasing.
To reap the benefits of brain wave vibration, follow these steps:
One of the great things about doing Brain Wave Vibration exercises is that there are no strict rules in the practice. But you may get more out of it if you follow these tips:
If you’re looking for a way to improve brain function, get out of that funk you’re in, or relax and de-stress, Brain Wave Vibration is a great type of meditation to try. We offer this and much more in Rhythm and Vibration class at Body & Brain Yoga Tai Chi locations.
This energy flow class is an energetic and expressive experience that can leave you feeling brand new. It will allow you to shake, tap, and dance your way to less stress and a deeper connection with yourself. Sometimes, the best way to clear your mind is to move your body — and this class will help you do just that.
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The content in this blog should not be used in place of direct medical advice or treatment, and is solely for informational purposes.