Grounding To Ocean Wave Sounds

Sometimes in life, I need to find centering and grounding.  Nature is one of the best places for me to do this because when I'm in nature, I feel like I am home.

This week, I got the chance to go to the ocean and walk on the beach on two different days.  There is something about walking on the beach in bare feet with the sand covering my toes.  Feeling the cool ocean water rush over my feet is an exhilaration.

Just seeing the waves crash off shore, hearing the roar of the ocean and seeing the sun glisten down on the water is so calming and centering and grounding.  Seeing the clouds roll through and change shades of white and grey is a pleasant backdrop.

Seeing the birds scamper back and forth with the ocean waves as they forage for food almost looks like a symphony to me.  They repeat this behavior in unison, barely caring if I need to walk by them.  

I could walk along the ocean for miles and miles.   I could feel the salt air on my lungs for days on end.  I could just lose myself as I walk through the sands of the beach and listen to the sounds.

Centering and Grounding at the ocean is exactly what I need right now.  I'm thankful I live close enough to do this at almost any time.

I needed to walk on the beach this week.  I badly needed it.  I needed to hear the ocean wave sounds.

My hope and dream is that one day I can get up in the morning and walk on the beach and then before I go to bed at night.  It is my hope and dream.

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Blog Post And Images (c) 1/1/16 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

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Relax To The Ocean Waves

Imagine sitting on the beach next to the ocean.  Feel the sun on your body and the wind on your face.  The birds soar as the air currents lift them up.  The grains of sand far outnumber your comprehension as your gaze of the blue ocean water brings tranquility to your mind.  Now, just relax in this image and relax to the sounds of Ocean Waves.  



 

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Blog Post And Images (c) 8/11/12 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

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Triggered By Sounds

Have you ever been triggered by sounds?  If you have suffered any type of trauma, I am sure you know completely what I am talking about.  The following article I published on Somatosync.com is my account of one trigger that has plagued me for most of my life.  I could never figure this out for the longest time and then suddenly, the lights went on in my brain.  While I make this sound easy and simple, it has been a process that has been anything but this.  I'm just relieved that the picture of the trigger is now one that I can vividly see and comprehend, regardless of how difficult the memories are.

To read Triggered By Sounds, click this link.

Celebrate The Sound Of Silence

In our day, there are too many noises and distractions. Sure, we tune most of them out, but they are still there lurking in the shadows. I remember reading Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor's account of how aware she was of the noises around her. In fact, I remember her saying something about working sometimes while using ear plugs to drown out the noises.

I am one of those sensitive people when it comes to noises. My ears pick them up as it does simple sounds around me. Sometimes it is a contest between my cat and I as to who picks up more sounds. It is sometimes difficult for me to function in a day where I need to be creative or analytical and having sounds flood through my ears.

White Noise and Ocean Waves

Recently, I released a CD called "Relaxing Ocean Wave Sounds". This is a CD of ocean waves that I captured. While a friend of mine immediately said "white noise" when they heard this CD, after some research, it might not be strictly defined as white noise.

However, I have been playing this CD at night and it really helps me relax and sleep while it cancels out the background noises. I have often used various white noise CD's when I was traveling to help me sleep to mask the noises of people talking in a hallway or doors slamming.

I was playing the ocean waves CD yesterday while working in my office, and my orange cat was so relaxed. At first he wasn't sure of the sounds but it didn't take him long to come over and lay down next to me. Yes, I do realize that cats can really zone out but my cat was beyond what he normally is when he is relaxed. It had a strong effect on him.

The term white noise comes from a reference to white light. In either white noise or white light, white refers to the full spectrum of sound or visible wave lengths. The key point here being that it is the full spectrum.


It is the equal distribution of light or sound waves or a noise that is produced by combining all possible tones or frequencies together. White noise generally is a soothing and relaxing sound that blocks out unwanted sounds or background noises.

In addition to white noise, there is pink noise. Pink noise is defined as pleasant sounds that are relaxing and fill the mind with unstimulating distractions much like white noise. However, with pink noise, it does not cover the full spectrum of sound frequencies and so it does not mask background noise as well as white noise.

There are many purposes and uses for white noise. White noise is great for sleep (insomnia), concentration, reading a book or just relaxing. It is often a help to those that suffer from tinnitus (ringing in the ears). White noise is also being used in offices to help cancel out background conversations from people working in adjacent cubicles or offices.

When I recorded the Relaxing Ocean Wave Sounds CD, I wanted to get the full dynamics of the sounds I heard on the beach. I did notice that while I relaxed on the beach, it seemed as if time stood still. Although there are many CD’s out there with the sound of ocean waves, many of them do not really capture the true experience and present an environment that connects the mind and body together.


Sources Of Information:
1) Wikipedia - White Noise
2) Hubpages.com - Do White Noise Machines Help You Sleep?


To Purchase "Relaxing Ocean Wave Sounds" CD
-- iTunes
-- Amazon
-- Napster
-- Rhapsody

For More Information on Don Shetterly's Music
http://www.donshetterly.com






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Blog Post & Images (c) 7/16/11 Don Shetterly - use by permission only
http://www.donshetterly.com

If any part of this post is used or shared, a link back to this site is required.
http://mindbodythoughts.blogspot.com/
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Relaxing Ocean Wave Sounds For Sleep, Massage, Relaxation, Healing, Spa

Imagine it is a warm sunny afternoon on the beach, with the sun shining down and a light ocean breeze blowing against you. At random times, birds go flying by as if they are effortlessly drifting along. As you relax on a beach towel, listen to the waves come in and go out, as the rhythm lulls you into a deep relaxed and meditative state. Spend some time and wake up feeling refreshed, renewed, and at peace within yourself.

Relaxing Ocean Wave Sounds is a CD of ocean waves that was recorded at Canaveral National Seashore in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. It was recorded on the summer solstice at morning low tide (June 21, 2011).

The CD has very dynamic and full ocean wave sounds that will lull you to sleep, help you relax, meditate, or are just ideal for massage, the spa or any other relaxing and healing environment you wish to create.

Available now on iTunes, Rhapsody and Napster and Amazon.

The CD is 69 minutes in length (a 1 track single) and can be purchased on itunes for $1.99 or Rhapsody, Napster and Amazon for 99 cents.

It is available for mp3 download on these sites and the physical CD on Amazon will be coming soon.

I hope everyone enjoys the CD and I look forward to seeing the reviews online at the various download sites.

CD Title: Relaxing Ocean Wave Sounds For Sleep, Massage, Relaxation, Healing, Spa
UPC: 859706360099
Artist: Don Shetterly

For More Information
http://www.donshetterly.com

Multidimensional Music

Music is one of those things that the love of a particular song lies in the eye of the beholder! No two people have the same musical taste or likes and dislikes. And music that one person may consider relaxing or invigorating may be like fingernails on a chalkboard to someone else.

When it comes to new age bodywork modalities, the common perception is that it must be non intrusive music and have a certain sound to it. Without some of the normal nuances one would expect to hear in "spa music", many consider it not worthy to be played with body work.

I remember several clients over the years who have asked I do massage to all kinds of music from Jazz, to Classical to Rock or whatever was playing at the time. At first, I began to wonder how I could do it. Than I realized that the music was for the client, and not necessarily for me.

As I did the massage, I began to notice that I picked up on various beats within the beat of the music and various sounds within the notes. I used whatever rhythm or musical sounds I needed to help achieve what it was that I was doing at the time. I learned that I could do massage to just about anything and mix in what I was doing, what the body needed with what that client was hearing on the table and where they were at in that moment. What came through to my hearing was matching the vibration of the body at that moment.

When I hear a song, whether it is fast or slow, I hear many parts of it. To my ears, there are notes and sounds within the notes of the song. It is what lies between the notes that are played which I pick up. One could call this the vibration or resonance of the music. In addition, my ears pick up various layers of the beat or the rhythm of a song. There is the main rhythm of the song but to my ears, they pick out different beats or sometimes my ears knock out certain beats so in effect, I'm slowing the rhythm down. For a song that may sound too fast to some, it sounds much different to me.

For me, I take it one step further when I'm doing bodywork sessions with clients. I begin to match my movements and what I do with the tempo or the sounds that their body needs in that particular moment. In the next moments, things may have already changed in their body and so then I began matching the things together again. It is like a flowing melody where the tempo and sounds change but they match together with the movement and transition of the body. All of this happens automatically without even thinking about what I am doing. If I thought about it, most likely it would not happen as easy because it is just part of where I connect with the client and their body.

Music is more than playing a few notes with a rhythm. It is multidimensional and if we stop and listen, we will hear things within the music that weren't not necessarily intended but they are part of the song. This gives the richness and fullness to the song and gives it life that connects from one heart to another. I am very moved by music and when I've used my own music in bodywork sessions, I've had people tell me that they felt as if my hands were playing their body just as if I was playing my piano. It was as if I was creating music with the body just as a musician would do with an instrument.

Here's a homework assignment. Take some music that you listen to and some that you would not normally listen to. See if you can pick up the other rhythms and beast within the songs as well as the notes between the notes. See if you can play with what you hear to achieve a different effect in your own body or that of a client. It is an amazing experience if you allow yourself the opportunity to do this. It adds so much more to the music experience.

*For more articles, check out the Mind Body Thoughts Blog

Swimming Dolphins & Relaxing Spa Music

Vilano Beach, near St. Augustine, Florida - http://www.donshetterly.com. Video was taken on a recent trip to St. Augustine Beach (FL) where we saw dolphins playing and swimming within a few feet of us. It was a beautiful site to see and a treat. I put this video to a sound clip of one of my relaxing piano songs called "Swimming Dolphins".