What exactly happens when you meditate?

Your brain functions on a small amount of electricity, much like a computer. This electrical current vibrates and pulses at various speeds. When you are wide awake, with your eyes focused, your brain vibrates 20 times per second – what scientists call 20 cycles per second or the Beta frequency.

You are probably at this beta level of mind right now as you read this.

When you go to sleep, your brain frequency slows down, all the way to about half cycle per second in the deepest levels of natural sleep. This is known as the Delta level.

In between Beta, the waking state, and Delta, the deep sleep state, there are two other levels of mental activity.

When you are in a light level of sleep or in meditation you are in the Alpha range, which is 7 to 14 cycles per second. This is the center range and this is what we mean by saying “going to your center”. Going to the alpha level or centering is essentially the same thing as meditating. When someone meditates, scientifically, they are simply reducing their brain wave frequency to Alpha. The Alpha level is the level we use to activate our minds. Theta is a level of deeper relaxation or sleep, when your brain waves are at 4 to 7 cycles per second.  The table below summarizes the 4 states of brain frequency.

State Brain Wave Frequency Associated With

Beta 14 – 21 cycles per second
(cps) and higher; Waking State, the five senses; Perception of Time and Space

Alpha 7 – 14 cps Light sleep, meditation, intuition. No Time & Space limitation.

Theta 4 – 7 cps Deeper Sleep, Meditation.

Delta 0 – 4 cps Deep Sleep. You are unconscious at Delta.

There are many benefits of “going to the Alpha level” or meditating. People who can remain in the Alpha level while analyzing information have access to more information than those who remain in Beta to do their thinking. Feelings of intuition, creative ideas, inspirational thoughts and ideas come to people while at this Alpha level.

Going to Alpha is also good for programming your mind. At the Alpha level you can learn to overcome all kinds of problems, such as insomnia, tension and migraine headaches, bad habits, and much more.

You can also program your mind to help you achieve your goals and make your dreams come true.