Music guided imagery sessions are helpful in providing relaxation, distress, identifying unconscious processes, and in the resolution of problems. Music listening combined with meditation and relaxation exercises has been shown to reduce anxiety levels.  Relaxation inhibits thoughts and emotions.

De-stressing Exercise #1

Dim the lights, light a candle, light some incense.  Get really comfortable and turn on music that is relaxing to you  Visualize that you are in your favorite place in the world. If any other thoughts come into your mind, dismiss them.  Say no, not now.  Is the sun out?  Feel the sun on your skin.  If you are in the snow or rain, feel that against your skin.  Feel the air on your skin.  Is the wind blowing?  Does it blow through your hair, your clothes, your toes?  What can you smell?  Follow that smell as it goes through your nose and into your body.  Which parts of your body does it penetrate?  Imagine the smell traveling through every part of your body.  Look at your favorite thing in that moment.  Trace every inch of that object or person.  Feel that you are touching with your eyes.  Caress it.  Notice every detail of that object/person.  Now feel every part of your body at that moment.  Start with your toes and then move slowly up your body.  The deeper you feel the moment, the deeper into relaxation you will fall.  You’re falling into a calm and tranquil state.

De-Stressing Exercise #2

Dim the lights, light a candle, light some incense.  Get really comfortable and turn on music that is relaxing to you.  Try to not imagine anything but rather go into a state of nothingness.  Let any thoughts come into your head but dismiss them immediately.  Every repetition of that thought dismiss over and over.  Any other thoughts dismiss as well.  Little by little, the thoughts will cease and you will enter into a trance like state where you are no longer thinking of anything.

Problem Solving Exercise

Dim the lights, light a candle, light some incense.  Get really comfortable and turn on music that is relaxing to you.  Think of a problem you have at hand.  Breath, three breaths in and three out.  You can add color to your visualizations.  Think of one or various colors that will touch your body and soul.  Play around with the colors as you relax.  Try and feel every part of the song and let your mind wonder wherever it wants.  Really let your mind and body experience the music, your thoughts, and your feelings.

Useful Music to Use in Relaxation or Guided Imagery

• Classical:  is said to contain the person’s experience.  This means that the person will feel safe and guarded in their experience.  They will feel free to feel and think without fear.
• Meditative Music:  is said to promote deep relaxation due to its mystical and magical properties.  Most often this type of music uses flutes, singing bowls, bells, drums, wind gongs, and cymbals.  It is said to have an expansive and limitless quality
• Jazz:  Can act as a relaxant or stimulant because of the complexity of the music.  The tempo can be slow for relaxation or fast for stimulation.  The types of instruments used also contribute to a relaxing or stimulant experiences.  Jazz possesses a mystical and expansive quality that produces relaxation.
• Trance Music:  said to be good with younger people.  It is characterized by repeating beats and melodies which place the listener into a trance.  The trance brings about calmness

References

(Bolwerk, 1990; Grocke & Wigram, 2007; Hamel, 2001; Hirokawa & Ohira, 2003; Robb et al., 1995; Silvermann, 2003; Watanabe, 2001).