Tell me, would you like to become more effective: think faster, absorb information, remember everything? Sounds seductive, right? If this is interesting to you, then it will not be superfluous to learn about such a concept as alpha state. This is not a fictional innovation for making money or another fraudulent scheme. Everything is completely scientific, legal, free and, most importantly, effective. From this post you will learn all about these waves on which the brain “works”. We will talk about how to enter the alpha state, and most importantly, why you might need it.
Who and why discovered the alpha state of the brain?
Fulfillment of desires, phenomenal memory, quick recovery after work - similar to the plot of the film "Areas of Darkness" if you watched it. If not, the main line of the picture lies in the fact that the main character drinks a magic pill, which allows you to use the brain's capabilities to one hundred percent. Of course, there is no free cheese, and soon the hero is faced with a bunch of side effects. So, of course, it happens only in the film. But what if you can really expand the use of the brain? What if one can become more effective in all spheres of life due to a new way of thinking that is easy to learn?
It is the state of alpha (brain) that will allow you to do all this. As usual, inventors create and discover something new by accident. And this brain condition is no exception. However, it was not a neurosurgeon or a world-famous medical star who introduced him to the world. The alpha state was discovered and described by a radio engineer named Jose Silva.
When his offspring studied at school, Jose ran into a problem familiar to every parent: children are not assiduous, learn some subjects not as successfully as we would like, marks are not encouraging. In parallel with this, Jose investigated the electrical pulses and frequencies at which the brain works, and decided to check some of his guesses. His research turned into a discovery that can, after a little practice, change your life.
Brain states
So, our brain can be in several states, under the names alpha, beta, delta and theta. They are very easy to describe in real life, as they differ in their activity levels. Are you looking for Jose Silva? The brain encephalogram, when they learned to do it over time, proved the absolute accuracy and reliability of the discovery of radio engineering.
The brain is constantly in a state of work, activity is measured in Hertz. The alpha state is characterized by indicators from eight to twelve Hz.
Alpha, beta, theta and delta
When we are awake, solve daily tasks and carry on our usual activities, the brain is in a beta state. When we sleep, the brain is in a state of delta and theta. These activity levels vary depending on the stage of sleep. And finally, the alpha state. This level of activity is characteristic of the brain when it is in a borderline state, that is, between sleep and wakefulness. Remember this feeling when you are already falling asleep, but are aware of it and are able to perceive reality? The body is completely relaxed, no thoughts remain in the head, and we almost sleep, but not yet to the end.
For whom the alpha state is natural
Interestingly, children under 5-6 years old are almost constantly in this state. Therefore, they can enthusiastically engage in one thing (for example, completely withdraw into themselves, having fun with a toy), concentrating only on this lesson. After starting school, where everyone should be the same in everything, children from a constant state of alpha gradually move to beta.
Try to remember yourself in preschool age. It is very likely that you could see little elves, fairies, gnomes or brownies. Now all these memories seem funny and childish to you. But do not try to compare yourself with the current child, whose brain works differently, and the perception of the world is completely different from how adults see it. Who knows what an adult can see if his brain is relaxed and at the same time concentrated on the perception of the world.
When we are in alpha
Every person experiences an alpha state every day, but, as a rule, it does not last very long - just a few minutes. It is unlikely that someone will naturally have a desire to delay this condition for longer, to study themselves in it. And in vain! It is in the alpha state that we can use the capabilities of the brain much more widely than in the beta state we are accustomed to. Next, we will tell you what a conscious transition is. The alpha state can be called specifically, but what is it for?
A little bit about spa treatments
You will be surprised, but the owners of beauty salons have long learned how to use this state of the brain for the benefit of the prosperity of their business. So, we describe the easiest way to enter the alpha state. You probably noticed that after visiting beauty salons you seem to come to life, the skin begins to glow from the inside, and the eyes are filled with shine. It's not about expensive miraculous creams, masks and balms. When we are given massage, all kinds of wraps, rubbing and other such pleasant procedures, we relax and automatically fall into alpha state. Our body is capable of self-regeneration and rejuvenation, but only if it works with the brain. So if in the alpha state you make the wrap the easiest cream - the effect will be incredible. So relax and have fun!
There is no money for an expensive spa, but meanwhile, how to enter the alpha state in this way? Go to a familiar hairdresser, manicurist, professional whose skilled hands you have no doubt about. You can also ask a loved one to give you a massage. It is very likely that, relaxing, you plunge the brain into a nap.
The state of the brain during meditation
Another category of people who are in a state of alpha, not just before bedtime, are those who practice meditation. Calming down the “internal dialogue” (the constant conversation that we have with ourselves in the head), freeing ourselves from thoughts, puts us in alpha during wakefulness. If the word "meditation" sounds boring to you and the yogi immediately appears in a lotus position, then know that this is not the only way to learn this condition. We will tell you about practical exercises for entering a relaxed state.
Than ineffective beta state before alpha
You may well have a reasonable question about why you need to be in some other state of the brain than in the one in which we are hourly during wakefulness? Indeed, by thinking, a person can achieve something or realize his ideas. In fact, this is not quite so.
Try a simple experiment. For half an hour, write down everything you think about. The results will surprise you: in a circle you “drive” the same thoughts. Records will not be diverse, because instead of letting the brain really work, you load it with pseudo-activity. Our brain is an incredibly complex and completely unexplored machine. It can not be compared with a computer, because compared with the brain, the latter is just a piece of stone in the hands of a primitive man.
This body is simply hungry for real work, but since we cannot give it to it, we load it with simple thoughts like “what my colleague thinks of me”, “do not forget to buy oatmeal today after work” or “curious to see the evening news release”. By answering these questions to yourself and not finding new food for thought, you will again and again think about these “most important” things, assuming that you are working hard with the brain. Meanwhile, it is the entry into the alpha state that really allows your brain to work, discover, or invent something new.
The beta state is by no means natural for us. It is forced due to the rhythm of modern life, and we come to it with growing up. Meanwhile, there is no one among adults who behaves as naturally as children. We do not urge you to act like a child. On the contrary, owning your life experience and learning how to use your brain rationally, you can achieve extraordinary effectiveness in all areas of life.
Silva Method
The book with the same name was written in the last century, but gained the greatest popularity already in this. Jose Silva came up with ways that his children could use, so they are not complicated. So what could be your first entry? The alpha state of a person is characterized by the absence of thoughts, and for this we will need to “load” the left hemisphere of the brain in order to distract him and balance his work with the right. What do we have to do? Lie comfortably, close your eyes, rolling your pupils as if looking at something above your head. Thus, it will be more difficult for you to fall asleep, because we are used to falling asleep when we are not thinking about anything.
Start counting from one hundred to one, slowly, but not slowly, with an interval of about half a second. What will happen? With a 90% probability for the first time, you don’t count to fifty and fall asleep. If you have any business, then set an alarm for yourself. When you wake up, do not try again, take a break of five to eight hours. The second time you are likely to fall asleep too, but you can count further. It will be perfectly normal to fall asleep during the first five attempts. But later you can count to one and not fall asleep. You are surprised to realize that you are relaxed, do not think about anything, incredible lightness in your head. Now you can solve any problem! Think about a problem that bothers you, and an easy and logical solution comes to your mind. Can't remember where you shared the keys to the apartment? Think about it and you will see where you put them.
We fulfill the desired
Does the alpha state of the brain fulfill wishes? Reviews indicate that in this state, you can create a new reality for yourself. Since you open up to creative ideas, then, of course, this is true. What are you dreaming about? About meeting your soul mate, about an apartment or promotion? Think about it using the alpha state of the brain. The feedback from the practitioners suggests that new thoughts are coming up on how to bring the desired closer, and pictures from the imagination come to life very soon. There is no miracle as such. Could be studied by no more than ten percent - it is the mechanism of its work, and not the anatomy. We do not know what exactly happens when we give this body to work for real, without loading with everyday stupidities.
From practice to business
Ten days after the start of training, you can go from one hundred to one and not fall asleep at the same time. Each time, you can stay in the alpha state longer and use it more and more efficiently. But you must admit that it is tiring and long to count from one hundred to one each time. Therefore, from day 11, tell yourself before the countdown the following: "Now I will count from fifty to one and enter the alpha state without falling asleep at the same time." Meanwhile, do not be surprised if you fall asleep, since your subconscious mind is not yet ready to obey you. In two to three days, you will be able to enter the alpha state from the report at fifty. Reviews say that if you continue to fall asleep, then this is not a reason to return to a hundred. Just practice further.
When you learn to transition to the desired state from fifty, learn to transition from thirty, then from ten. The result of the practice will be the opportunity to enter the alpha state from a countdown from five. Can't believe it? And you try!
What you will encounter during practice
The difficulty that you will encounter at first, trying to enter the alpha state, is, first of all, "falling" into a dream. Over the years of your life, you are accustomed to the fact that the liberation of the brain from all thoughts inevitably leads to falling asleep. But do not be alarmed - after a couple of weeks of daily practice, you can not fall asleep and stay in the alpha state for as long as you want.
Another problem that makes many fall back at the very beginning of the path is the inability to not think about anything. This is really difficult, because we are told from childhood that when there are no thoughts in the head, then this is bad. So, most likely, a person is stupid if he does not think about anything. As a result, we became accustomed to the state when we talk to ourselves all day, from the moment when we woke up from sleep in the morning, and until we fall asleep. A few minutes of random alpha state are not taken seriously by us, and we most often do not use it consciously.
If you don’t think, the problem is
It happens that you again and again lose count and get distracted. Or here's another possible situation: you counted to unity, but the brain works, and you absolutely have not relaxed. Do not be alarmed! This does not mean that going into the alpha state is not for you. There is a small practical lesson that will allow you to control your thoughts without making any effort.
Relax and take a comfortable sitting or lying position. Close your eyes and imagine that you are sitting in a movie theater, and in front of you (about five meters away) is a large bright screen. You sit and look at this screen (of course, mentally). Very soon, different thoughts will begin to climb into my head. Do not try to run away from them, since it is impossible to win by force here. Run them into your head by projecting onto the screen. Do not try to respond to these thoughts with a reaction, but simply observe them. Without an answer on your part, if you are only an observer, thoughts will go away. Your task is to practice it two to three days four to five times. The result will be the ability to easily imagine the screen without thinking about anything and without forcing yourself to do so.
Another workshop
Another lesson will help you to facilitate and speed up the transition to the alpha state, to which you can go when you master working with a white screen. Imagine on the screen an object that is familiar to you and does not look very difficult. For example, let it be an apple or a strawberry. Imagine the texture, sensations, if touched, smell, taste. Imagine that you are inside a fruit. What do you feel there?
It is the white screen that will become your desktop while the brain is in alpha state. On it you will present yourself as happy, famous or wealthy. However, some people come to him intuitively, while others need to practice. Do not be afraid if you do not succeed right away. We are so used to thinking in the usual way for us that the transition to a new level of thinking can seem very difficult. The most important thing is to never give up practical training.
Alpha fiction
Since this topic is more than popular today, you can find a lot of fictional information about the alpha state. Shatter some myths.
1. "Not everyone can enter." In fact, neurosurgeons have proven that 96% of adults can easily enter their brain into this condition. If you do not succeed, then do not rush to sin that you belong to these 4%. Practice, and you will succeed.
2. "There are people with a congenital alpha state." Any state of the brain is not something permanent due to the functioning of this organ. Almost all people can enter the alpha state and eventually learn how to be in it as much as possible.
3. "Many sources indicate that you must be in the alpha state for at least 20 minutes." In fact, there are no time limits that either limit your stay. Practice, and every day your time in this state of brain activity will only increase.
4. "The most effective way to enter is meditation." Alpha state is a natural state of the brain. It is believed that the easiest way to immerse a person into it is if you place it in a warm, dark room. The only drawback is that you will fall asleep quickly, while meditation allows you to stay consciously in it for a long time. Use practices with a white screen, visualizing objects on it and step-by-step entering the alpha state.