Exercises

Hemispherical dominance

One hemisphere of the brain tends to dominate for a particular function. But it is not as simple as this. If you wish to pick up a cup you can do it with either hand. You do not find yourself in conflict or indecision. The fact that you pick up the cup without hesitation means that one hemisphere of the brain has taken a dominant role for this act. For any act only one hemisphere is dominant. It would also appear that hemispherical dominance switches throughout the day. To observe this, try exercise #1.

Exercise #1 Nostril test

Throughout a particular day or half-day, notice which nostril you breath through the most. Although you can take in air through both nostrils, one will be the dominant one. To check this, press your finger on the side of the nose to block one nostril. Then do the same with the other. Which is easier to breath through? Check this out at different times and note which nostril is easier to breath through. When it is easier to breath out of the right nostril, the left hemisphere is dominant; when easier to breath out of the left nostril, then the right hemisphere is dominant.

Synchronized breathing and heartbeat

A sensation felt when entering a trance state is the reduction in the heart rate as you relax and, more particularly, a slow rhythmic breathing. Your breathing may become hardly noticeable. This is a useful indicator that you are in a trance state because it shows the body is finding its own natural rhythm, which is a right brain function. The pace of life makes breathing and heartbeat lose their natural rhythm: they often become unsynchronised. One of the essential benefits of being in a trance is to re-establish a synchronised breathing and heartbeat. Exercise #2 is a brief experiment in bringing this about.

Exercise #2 Synchronized breathing and heartbeat

Take a metronome and place it on sixty beats to the minute or seventy-two beats to the minute. The first is the beat of largo in classical music, especially baroque. The second represents the typical beat of the human heart. Now just sit quietly with your eyes closed while listing intently to the metronome. Very soon you will find your breathing and your heartbeat will slow down. More particularly, your breathing and your heartbeat will synchronize with the beat of the metronome. In fact, this is the basis behind lulling a baby to sleep. It is also why listening to classical baroque music, such as Bach, is so relaxing. The synchronization of heartbeat and breathing in response to certain types of music is known to improve concentration and learning. Music by Mozart has been particularly beneficial in this regard.

The opposite also applies. For instance, if you are in a car driving along a motorway and the music you are playing is loud and fast, then your breathing and heartbeat will synchronize with this too. Before long, you have also increased the speed at which you are driving!