Music
Music for meditation and relaxation can be very beneficial to a person's overall mental health. Some people chant along to the music, but others choose music with no lyrics because they find it distracting. The best relaxation music has a soft rhythm and a slow tempo, and it should be enough to relax you, but not enough to lull you to sleep.
Other elements such as instrumental shifts and percussion can also be a distraction. These effects can cause the listener to anticipate the transition, rather than concentrating on their practice. An upbeat tempo can cancel out any relaxation effect, so it's best if you choose nontransitional, soft music. Playing it too loudly can also be a barrier to relaxation.
Longer relaxation songs generally yield better results as they encourage a longer practice. You will most likely meditate for 20 minutes to a single song, rather than four songs that are five minutes in length. Breaks between songs can interrupt your thoughts, and induce you to quit your practice too soon. You should consider using earphones to listen to your music, so that external sounds are blocked out. This is especially useful if you practice at work or any public setting. Continued meditation can teach you to block out external distractions, but beginners should start by using headphones.
Meditation and relaxation music can also be used for non-practice purposes. You could play them whenever you feel overstressed- play it in the car if you are stuck in a traffic jam, or when you are waiting in line somewhere. As with other therapies, you may need to listen to more than one type of relaxation music before you find the one that suits you.