The 7th of July 2024 provided us with an excuse for a mini-celebration. My wife reached two years of consecutive daily meditation using the Muse headband system, and on the same day, I passed 5 million Muse points in the same period. In this feature, I’ll provide an overview of our journey, some of the things we’ve learned, and the amazing benefits meditation has brought us.
Meditation is enormously beneficial for brain health and overall well-being. It is an ancient practice that has been performed since the dawn of modern humans and is one of the few health-promoting activities that comes with zero significant drawbacks.
Although some who have yet to experience its benefits might be concerned that learning to meditate might be difficult, rest assured it is not. Companies such as Interaxxon, who invented the Muse headbands, have helped to make meditation accessible for all.
The company’s headbands contain medical-grade EEG sensors, which monitor the electrical activity produced by the brain. Through clever programming, the individual waves are then displayed in a graphical format on a mobile phone, and user progress is stored safely on the app.
Reasons to Celebrate
Twenty-four days ago, the Muse app showed me that I had been meditating every day with it for exactly two years. The app shows it as a numerical ‘streak,’ although I had reached 730 consecutive days without any graphical fanfare, it felt like an achievement for me.
I did consider writing about my meditation experience then; however, other mini-milestones were within reach: my wife reaching the same 730-day, two-year mark and the possibility of me reaching five million Muse points. As mentioned, both these were achieved on the 7th of July.
In my current role, I often need to research ways to live a healthier life, and I am also afforded the opportunity to read articles submitted by leading health experts. One word that popped up time and time again is meditation. Although I was quite familiar with the practice, I realised there was more to learn.
A little over three years ago, I decided to dive ‘head-first’ into reading and watching everything I could find on meditation, and the more I did, the keener I became to make it a core component of my life.
Growing up, statues of Buddha surrounded me, and I was no stranger to the word meditation. My mother, a practising Buddhist, often talked to me about her culture and practices in my younger years.
Although I dabbled in meditation occasionally, I used it more as a badge of honour or a talking point. It was only in more recent years that I realised that it is much more than an interesting conversation topic, and it is one of the best ways to protect my mental health now and in my later years.
Our Ever-evolving Lifestyle
After more than twenty years of marriage, my wife and I still act like newlyweds, and our focus is always on the best for each other. Each other’s health is always at the forefront of our minds, and although my wife was already leading a super-healthy lifestyle, I lagged somewhat in that department.
Introducing any drastic changes after many decades of doing the same things is far from easy. What we found has made it much more straightforward is doing it with another person, particularly someone you love.
Although there were no hard and fast rules regarding who would be doing what, based on our individual interests and experience, the most obvious area for me to focus on was ways to improve our mental health, and my wife’s responsibility was pretty much everything else!
In our quest to lead better lives, aside from daily meditation, we now engage in intermittent fasting, use red light/IR light therapy, avoid all sugar, alcohol, and ultra-processed foods, and have stopped watching or reading things that could be detrimental to our mental health. We mainly eat organic produce, drink unpasteurised milk, and make our own Kefir, biotic water, Komboucha, and fermented foods.
We also constantly increase our intake of fats, salads, and vegetables, use castor oil, go for daily walks, spend time in natural environments, hike, climb mountains, perform grounding, and consume daily supplements, including Omega-3, Vitamin D3, Hydrolysed Marine Collagen, Magnesium Glycinate, and a whole lot more.
Before I get into the details of our meditation practices, I want to acknowledge James Clutterbuck and Steffan Iverson for the incredible work they’ve done in creating platforms that have helped millions understand what is going on inside the bony domes at the top of their bodies.
James created the Mind Monitor platform, which allows users to examine specific brainwaves. His app creates CSV files, which are then uploaded to his web platform and then converted into multiple graphical charts.
Steffan has taken this a step further with his Meditation Monitor platform, which uses the same CSV files created in Mind Monitor to provide a detailed brainwave analysis. His platform also produces comparisons with experienced meditators, the location of individual brainwaves (see above), and more.
As one becomes more familiar with meditation techniques, the urge to investigate brain activity further is natural.
James and Steffan’s creations work independently from the Muse app, and I must have conducted thousands of meditation sessions using both. If these weren’t such interesting distractions, I would’ve likely been much closer to 10 million Muse points*, as on some days, I would only find the time to use Muse’s app for a few minutes daily.
Meditation Practice
On average, I will meditate for between one and two hours daily, while my wife finds a shorter time, such as 15-20 minutes, more beneficial.
Although I dedicate more time than many others do to meditation, I should stress that longer sessions do not always equate to better.
Some experts state that as little as 15 minutes of daily meditation is enough to change the brain’s physical structure and produce significant benefits, and research tends to confirm this.
Meditating makes my mind enter what feels like a separate empty space. It is a very comfortable state of mind that I can maintain for well over an hour.
During my meditations using the Muse headband, I’ll have a good idea of what the data will show before my sessions end.
For example, if I do a 30-minute meditation session with a Muse headband, I would expect to see around 300 birds, an average heart rate in the low 60s, around 100% stillness, a few recoveries, and a high calm percentage. For a 20-minute meditation, it would be around 200 birds, and so on.
Monkey Mind
When most people first start meditating, they will likely experience constant distraction, known as the ‘Monkey Mind’. Even the most experienced meditators are not immune to this. Trying to prevent thoughts, etc., from appearing is nigh impossible; the secret to achieving a calmer and quieter mind is in observing them but not engaging with them.
The Buddha said, “Just as a monkey swinging through the trees grabs one branch and lets it go only to seize another, so too, that which is called thought, mind or consciousness arises and disappears continually both day and night.”
‘Monkey Mind’ is just one of many things that can distract you while meditating. Others include itches, drifting off to sleep, muscle twitches and spasms, external noise, thinking about how you are feeling, and so on. Rest assured, in time, these will become far less of a concern during your practice and can be overcome by simply noticing them and letting them pass and fade away.
Although accumulating points and birds on the Muse app is fun and motivating, I should stress that, by far, the most important aspect of meditation is consistency and the subjective experience, which includes conscious awareness, feelings, inner awareness, phenomenal consciousness, and qualia. You can learn more about the subjective experience here.
Every person’s meditation experience is different, and it is not a competition. Some of my profound practices have produced data showing vastly more interruptions than birds and a very low calm percentage; the same is true when I decide to experiment with states of mind. My advice is not to be driven by the numbers; see them as a signpost pointing you to the right path.
Varying how my wife and I meditate has proven beneficial and significantly boosted our enjoyment. We purchased an infrared sauna blanket, and my wife often dons her Muse and a Kasina and meditates inside it. She also enjoys sitting in front of a red light therapy panel or lying in the garden while doing grounding.
In my quest to learn more, I regularly engage with highly proficient and experienced meditators who have benefited from the teachings of the most lauded meditation masters, visited far-flung monasteries, and stayed at dedicated retreats. Personally, I have never felt a need to do this; for me, online research and the Muse system have been enough (at this stage of my journey).
Whether based on maintaining a tradition or first-hand experience, many I speak with seem convinced that postures such as the Lotus, Seiza, or Burmese positions are vital.
My approach is somewhat different; it is the most comfortable position for me at the time, whether it is leaning against a rock, sitting upright on a bed with my legs out, or lounging on a sofa. When I examined my brain wave data, I did not find a traditional seated position more beneficial than any other comfortable position.
Another thing I probably do differently is not needing to ‘ready’ myself using specific breathing techniques, etc.; it seems to happen automatically. I am a sit/lie comfortably, put on a Muse headset, click start on the app, and ‘away we go’ type of meditator.
I don’t want readers to think I am making light of breathwork; I’m not; I just happen to have found a breathing method while meditating without intention. Incorporating correct breathwork is incredibly beneficial and is another tool to have in the box if you want to enhance emotional, physical, and mental well-being.
The Types of Meditation
Over the years, I have experimented with pretty much every type of Meditation: mindfulness, transcendental, loving-kindness, focused, Zen, etc., and I have found all of them beneficial.
Not keeping to one style or adopting a traditional or formulaic approach hasn’t held me back in the slightest.
During the past two years, I’ve experienced most, if not all the Jhanas (Dhyanas), found techniques that allow me to switch between my left and right hemispheres and discovered ways to boost individual brainwaves, including experiencing delta waves while conscious. According to the brainwave data, I can even be in a calm, and in a meditative state when staring at a wall or nature with my eyes open.
After countless hours of meditation, there are many aspects that I have yet to fully experience, which encourages me to keep exploring. One area I am keen to explore more is generating regular lucid dreams, which my wife finds surprisingly easy.
What I Experience While Meditating
I need to begin with an unencumbered mindset to ensure I am making the best use of my time when meditating. If I start a practice and feel I am too distracted, I’ll often stop and try again later to ensure I get the full benefit.
On the odd occasion, I have experienced things almost impossible to put into words, such as a multi-sensory feeling of being connected to external energy or engaging with another realm/astral plane. When I tried to explain it to a curious life-long practitioner, they said it sounded similar to what those who take psychedelic substances experience. I must stress that it has only happened a handful of times among thousands of practices.
Usually, while meditating, I feel extremely calm and disconnected, with an undercurrent of peace and happiness. Frequently, I’ll experience something more profound, which I can best describe as increasingly stronger waves of positive and beautiful emotions.
The closest I can get to describing this is what you experience when you see a child smiling or laughing, witness an authentic random act of kindness, or have a profound connection with nature; take that and add joy, serenity, and an overwhelming feeling of love for all. It is an addictive and extraordinary feeling that I don’t want to end.
When my wife asks me to describe what I feel afterwards, I tell her, “It feels like I am touching heaven”.
Changes and Reawakening Hidden Powers
As my wife and I have progressed along our meditation journey, we’ve noticed many changes. Aside from the expected and obvious benefits, such as less stress and the urge to spread joy, love and happiness, we feel we have better foresight and intuition.
Our egos have also become much less of a factor in our lives; we do not feel the need to prove ourselves or gain validation from others. Our ability to take in and retain new information has also improved greatly, and we feel that we can better understand how the world works and see it in a clearer light.
Another positive aspect of long-term meditation is that you’ll become unwittingly drawn to others on the same journey. These people are almost always calm, caring, and considerate people who are not under the influence of their egos.
I liken it to having a secret power that has been reawakened. This power allows you to feel the calm and contentment in others and sense genuinely good auras. It also makes it easier to spot those hiding behind a facade, using fakery and gaslighting, and those whose goal is what they can get from you.
Although our newly discovered ‘power’, which has allowed us to see people’s true motives, has resulted in us spending less time with people socially, it has not diminished our enjoyment of life; in fact, we regularly tell each other we feel more content than ever.
Although we spend less time with people in a social environment, we don’t want it to appear that we have become completely ‘hermit-like’ and deliberately shy away from others. We are naturally friendly and make it a point to interact with everyone we come across, particularly while walking.
We constantly remind ourselves that the person(s) we encounter could be having a difficult time and could use a reason to smile.
Something as simple as a nod, wave, or a few friendly words might be all they need to feel happier or more positive. In the past, we might’ve been offended if someone ignored our goodwill gestures. Nowadays, thanks to meditation, it is like “water off a duck’s back.”
People often describe a journey into meditation as part of an ‘awakening,’ which, in some ways, is what we are experiencing. Today, we are more inclined to welcome many things, viewpoints, etc., into our lives that we wouldn’t have a few years ago.
However, as much as Meditation has improved our lives, it is important to stress that it hasn’t removed or muted the tools we need to thrive.
Is a Muse headband Essential?
One of the best things about Meditation is that you don’t need anything but yourself to do it. Technological devices such as the Muse headbands are fun and helpful, as they can help track your progress and show when your mind is in a calm state. Without one, I view knowing where you are on a meditative journey as little more than a best guess.
The Muse app contains fantastic interactive content, guides, and advice from leading experts. It has also constantly been upgraded and added; earlier this year, in response to customer feedback, the Muse app introduced another excellent feature: specific brain wave tracking, further extending its appeal.
We currently have multiple headbands in our home and use them all. We also frequently combine them with our Mindplace Kasina devices, which produce a combination of audio tracks, binaural beats, and coloured lights displayed via LED glasses to improve relaxation.
Another product we have found beneficial in our journey towards calmness is the Alpha-Stim (above). It is a battery-operated medical device that uses cranial electrotherapy stimulation, which involves small, safe electrical currents sent via clips on the earlobes.
When testing the device, we found it significantly boosted our Alpha Waves, which are known for inducing feelings of calm and can help boost creativity.
If you are serious about embarking on the journey towards inner peace, devices such as the Muse headband, the Mindplace Kasina, and Alpha-Stim will save you from much wasted time.
Is there an ‘End Goal’ with Meditation?
If you were to ask most people what they want from life, some would say to be healthy, a few would say they want power and wealth, and others would say they want to find love. However, I am convinced that most people asked would say they want to be happy.
If your goal is only to be happier, then meditation is one of the best ways to achieve it. But with regular practice, it can give you much more. For example, it can improve brain health, slow down the reduction in grey matter, help rid you of stress, and significantly reduce anxiety. It is also fantastic for freeing and opening your mind, allowing you to view and interact with the world in a more enjoyable way.
But, above all, in my opinion, the ultimate benefit of meditation is it takes you considerably closer to the ultimate goal, which is contentment.
Although contentment contains happiness, it is important to distinguish the two. Contentment is a much more robust state of mind that can last considerably longer than happiness, possibly throughout a person’s life.
Some of the most content people in the world have what the majority consider less. They have found a way to see beyond the ongoing media bombardment telling them what they need to improve their lives. They experience each day in a simpler, more authentic, and honest way and are less troubled by the bumps, hurdles, and stumbling blocks placed in front of them; it is a lifestyle that some of the wealthiest, best-known and most powerful people in the world can only hope to replicate.
Final Thoughts…
Reaching small numerical milestones with Muse has been fun, but that’s all it is in the grand scheme of things. The most important thing is how meditation makes you feel. If numbers motivate you to do this, that’s great, but as you become more experienced, you will find that the numbers become secondary.
Meditation has enriched and improved our lives in many ways, and we regret not doing it sooner. It is one ingredient in a tripartite formula that includes exercise and diet. While each is hugely beneficial, they create the perfect recipe for a better life in combination.
Everyone reading this knows how stressful modern life can be and will be aware of the damage it can do to physical and mental health. We do not believe ‘papering over the cracks’ is the way forward; people need an intangible, near-unbreakable shield to protect them.
The obvious way to achieve that and gain a few superpowers is to meditate, exercise more, and pay more attention to your diet.
If you have yet to take your first steps towards a better and more enriching life, we say, “The recipe for a more fulfilling life is clear. What are you waiting for?“
*Exactly one month after reaching the mini-milestones (7th August), I recorded the numbers on the Muse app to add more context. The app data showed that in the month following, I meditated using the Muse system for 2,245 minutes, which resulted in an additional 343,797 Muse calm points and 16,684 birds.