I always say that I'm going to meditate more. Not just sit there cross-legged hum-whispering "om" under my breath, but being still and calm no matter how loud my mind races. What I've learned from trying to meditate daily in the past is that I'm not particularly good at shutting off my thoughts and zoning in on my breathing in a quiet room. But, as Casey Urban, a yoga teacher of 10 years, said in a previous interview, that takes time and a lot of it. "People wake up early to meditate and they get frustrated when they can't quite focus on the breath the whole time," she said. "But it takes years and years and years to build a strong, steady practice."

I need moments of pause that aren't overcome by jarring silence. That's why Wave, a newly-launched guided meditation experience that lets you rest against a pillow and not only tune into beats of your choice, but feel the music as it plays, seemed like a great idea to test out. Studies claim that meditation in general can reduce anxiety, stress, and pain. It can also lower blood pressure and aid in better sleep. These proven benefits have always been in the back of my mind, and the fact that Wave includes music and an actual pillow made me all the more excited to give it a try. Ahead, check out everything you need to know about Wave and my thoughts on using it.

Originally posted here:

How Music and a Special Pillow Turned Guided Meditation Into Something I Actually Enjoy - POPSUGAR