CHAPTER
4

Meditation

In This Chapter

  • What is meditation?
  • Buddha tested, doctor approved
  • Learning to let go
  • Meditation and ASMR

It is a relaxation practice that has been in existence for thousands of years and is used by millions to relieve stress, re-energize the body, and restore the soul. It is easy, inexpensive, and can be done anytime, anywhere, and by anyone. It is the ancient art of meditation.

Although it is typically associated with Eastern cultures, religious practices, and the martial arts, in the last century meditation has not only won the West but also the endorsement of the medical community. Experts say that meditation can calm the mind, shut out the noise of the day, and have a positive impact on people’s overall health and well-being.

In this chapter, we examine this practice that many consider to be at the heart of ASMR. We tap into its rich history, uncover its benefits, and learn how ASMRtists are usingelements of this art form to take their content to a whole new level.

The History of Meditation

The term meditation refers to a wide range of contemplative relaxation methodologies used by individuals to achieve physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual balance in their lives. It is characterized by the act of silencing the mind and turning attention inward in order to attain a sense of inner peace and clarity.

DEFINITION

Meditation is the act or process of spending time in quiet contemplation.

Meditation is a practice that has been around for a very long time; however, the exact origin remains unknown. Although the technique is traditionally associated with countries such as India, China, and Japan, scholars say it is probably a universal concept that was discovered by early hunting and gathering societies who first stared into their tribal fires and pondered the meaning of life.

The earliest recorded history of meditation-like practices (known as Tantras) was found in the Vedas, a collection of ancient Indian texts believed to have been penned around 1500 B.C.E. The process developed, expanded, and spread throughout the region over the next millennium.

Buddha’s Influence on Meditation

Meditation’s popularity is largely credited to a sage born in the Himalayan foothills between the sixth and fourth centuries B.C.E., who not only became the poster child for the meditative process, but also the father of his own religious movement: Buddha.

Although scholars agree that the Buddha was a real man who grew up to be one of the most influential spiritual leaders of all time, many of the stories and legends surrounding his biography are debated. What is generally accepted is that Buddha was born Siddhārta Gautama in what is now modern-day Nepal in approximately 500 B.C.E.. The son of a king, Siddharta’s mother died shortly after his delivery, and in an effort to protect the boy from any further tragedy, Siddhārta’s father opted to raise the boy in an opulent palace devoid of any contact with the outside world.

As per the custom of the time and culture, Siddhārta married at the age of 16 but continued to live in solitude for the next 13 years. When he ventured outside the palace walls at the age of 29, reality hit him hard. He saw the pain and suffering that he had been blind to for so long and his mind filled with questions about the human condition. After making a few more exploratory journeys and realizing that suffering was everywhere, he made the decision to leave his kingdom, his family (including his wife and son), and his “ivory tower” behind in order to live life as an ascetic.

DEFINITION

An ascetic is one who practices severe self-discipline and abstention for religious or philosophical purposes.

Over the next six years, Siddhārta lived in abject poverty. He denied himself of all worldly pleasures, practiced self-mortification, and fasted to the point of starvation. He studied a variety of meditation techniques and followed the teachings of noted religious leaders of the day, but remained unfulfilled. Nothing Siddhārta learned could help him relieve the universal suffering that appeared to be at the very heart of human existence.

At a moment of great disappointment and disillusion, Siddhārta accepted a bowl of rice pudding and milk from a young girl. This caused his fellow ascetics to label him as greedy and someone who could not rise above his hunger. Siddhārta suddenly had a realization that deprivation hadn’t brought him anymore answers than his life of opulence did. He concluded that perhaps true happiness came from living a balanced and moderate life as opposed to a life of extremes, a philosophy he called the Middle Way.

Armed with this new awareness and determined to find the answers at last, Siddhārta settled beneath the Bodhi tree and went into a meditative state that lasted for nearly 50 days. During this period, he purified his mind, examined his life, and battled a demon that challenged his quest for enlightenment. According to the legend, Siddhārta touched his hand to the ground, asked the universe for strength, and banished the demon forever. In that moment, an image formed in his mind of all that had happened in the universe. He received all of the answers to all of the questions that had plagued him over the years. He was awakened. From that moment on, he ceased to be known by his birth name and was forever known as the Buddha, a name that means “awakened” or “enlightened one.”

DID YOU KNOW?

The story of the Buddha’s enlightenment has several parallels to the story of Jesus’ temptation in the desert prior to his public ministry.

Initially, Buddha was hesitant to teach. He felt that much of what he had to share could not be expressed in words. However, after his enlightenment via meditation, he offered his first sermon, known as Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (The Setting in Motion the Wheel of the Dharma). It contained the two philosophies that would become the foundation for Buddhism: the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

  • The Four Noble Truths: These are centered on the nature and causes of suffering, as well as how it can be eliminated from one’s life.
  • The Eightfold Path: This asserts that people must have the right concentration, understanding, thought, speech, action, mindfulness, livelihood, and effort to eliminate suffering in their lives.

Over the next 45 years, Buddha traveled extensively, preached his philosophies, and formed a Sangha (a community of monks that welcomed women and believed in equal opportunity for all), while remaining an advocate for the meditative practice. In fact, the Buddhist tradition spawned a number of meditation techniques, some of which we will highlight a little later in this chapter. Buddha went to his grave believing that everyone who calms their mind and opens their heart to the truth as he did through meditation can find inner peace and reach the state of nirvana.

DEFINITION

In the Buddhist tradition, nirvana is a peaceful state of mind that is free of ignorance, hatred, greed, and other desecrations.

Meditation Moves West

The Buddha’s influence, philosophies, and practices spread throughout the region and—whether directly tied to the famous guru or not—meditation techniques could be found in a number of religious traditions, including Judaism (Kabala), Islam (Tafakkur and Sufism), Hindu, Taoism, and even Eastern Christian movements. However, its journey West was a much slower process. Although the ancient texts had made their way to the hands of Western academics and intellectuals by the late eighteenth century, it wasn’t until the mid-twentieth century that Eastern practices began to flourish in Western society. This was thanks in part to the publication of Siddharta by German poet, novelist, and painter Herman Hesse, as well as the first English translation of the Tibetan Book of the Dead. Both of these books introduced westerners to Eastern practices, including meditation, the journey of self-discovery, and the stages of consciousness.

The post–World War II era added fuel to the fire thanks to the number of Allied service members who had spent time in the Pacific theater and had personal experience with Eastern practices. Beat generation authors such as Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsburg peppered their writings with Eastern philosophies throughout the 1950s, and in the 1960s, a little-known sage by the name of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi made headlines worldwide when four lads from Liverpool, England, traveled thousands of miles to sit at his feet and learn from him.

Although it is hard to say just how much of an influence the Beatles had on the popularity of Eastern culture and meditative practice, it is fair to say that meditation techniques were widely embraced by the counterculture, who were determined to rise above the tumultuous world they were living in during the Vietnam era. Yoga studios and Transcendental meditation centers began to dot the landscape throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, and it wasn’t long before researchers began to wonder if there were any health benefits to these “New Age” practices.

In 1979, Jon Kabat-Zinn established the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program at the University of Massachusetts in hopes of using meditation practices to treat patients with chronic illnesses. This not only gave meditation some clinical legitimacy, but also ushered in a new wave of awareness that has continued into the twenty-first century.

Mind Over Matter

Over the past 50 to 60 years, scientists have worked tirelessly to gain a better understanding of meditative techniques, how the techniques tie into wellness, and how they can benefit people’s lives. There are also some who are trying to determine what, if any, connection these practices have to the ASMR phenomenon.

It is generally believed by the clinical community that meditation can lower stress and anxiety, help fight depression and addictions, manage pain, improve cognitive functioning and creativity, build internal energy, develop positive character qualities, reduce negative emotions, and combat sleep disorders. But how does meditation do that?

A 2011 study conducted by a team of researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital sought to explain this mind-body connection and what happens in the brain when people meditate. Using MRI technology, they studied images of their subjects’ brains before and after meditation. What they discovered is that when an individual meditates, the brain does not process information as it did before. Instead, the following happens:

  • There is a general decrease in beta waves, which are often associated with active, busy, or anxious thinking and active concentration.
  • The frontal lobe, the most highly evolved part of the brain, goes offline.
  • The activity in the parietal lobe, which is responsible for translating sensory information, is reduced.
  • The information that passes through the thalamus, which regulates consciousness and alertness, slows to a crawl.
  • The reticular formation, which acts as the brain’s sentry, is no longer on “high alert” and is less likely to respond to stimuli and arousal.

According to Britta Hölzer, lead author of the group’s paper, which appeared in the January 30, 2011, issue of Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, through the practice of meditation, people “can play an active role in changing the brain and increase [their] well-being and quality of life.”

An illustration based on MRIs of a person’s brain before and after meditation. Notice how much calmer the brain looks in the postmeditation scan.

How to Meditate

Meditation techniques are as wide and varied as the people who practice them. They can be part of a religious service (such as prayer, scripture reading, and reflection) or strictly secular. They can be formalized methodologies taught by certified professionals or they can be simple, informal strategies infused into everyday life.

TINGLE TIP

Another way to enhance the meditation experience is to add sounds of nature, such as water, birds, or the rustling of leaves. Some people assert this helps calm the mind and enables you to relax.

Regardless of what technique you may be drawn to, there are a few elements that will help prepare you and may help improve your chances of experiencing ASMR at the same time:

  • Practice in a peaceful environment. If you are new to meditation or ASMR, it’s best to have as few distractions as possible in order to concentrate on the task at hand.
  • Wear comfortable clothing. Weather-appropriate, nonrestrictive clothing is best for the meditation process. Shoes should be removed, but socks may be worn.
  • Set a timer. While having a “shot clock” of sorts can be distracting, some prefer to have their session monitored so they do not have to constantly check the time.
  • Stretch out. In meditation practices, you tend to stay in one position for a long time, so it is beneficial to stretch your muscles before beginning to keep them from getting stiff.
  • Get comfortable. Traditionally, people meditate while sitting in the lotus or half-lotus position (legs crossed), but it is permissible to use a chair or to lie down.
  • Close your eyes. Although your eyes can remain open, closing them is another way of reducing external distractions.
  • Focus on your breath. This step helps you regulate your oxygen intake and reduces the use of muscles in your neck, shoulders, and upper chest.
  • Practice visualization. The more detailed and vivid the imagery in your mind, the more successful your meditation session will be.
  • Scan your body. By focusing on individual body parts as you meditate, you can eliminate any unnoticed tension and anxiety.

So take heart. Meditation doesn’t require you to don a robe, sit cross-legged on a pillow, or chant for hours on end in order to meditate. It’s simply about finding a quiet place where you can open your mind and letting your energy flow.

Common Meditative Practices

Are you ready to explore this ancient art form in order to see if it can help trigger your tingles to help you relax and get some rest at night? Chances are if you are experimenting with ASMR or are a known tingle head, you have probably already had some experience with meditation, but if not, here are a few techniques to get you started. While some are more ASMR friendly than others, it’s worth exploring a few of them to see if any have the ability to help you tap into your tingles or enjoy a more intense ASMR episode. For more information about the different types of meditative practices, you can visit University of the Heart at iam-u.org.

KEEP IN MIND

If you have an existing medical condition, you should consult with your physician before beginning any meditative (or ASMR) practice. Some techniques can exacerbate or worsen symptoms in people with certain conditions and produce feelings of confusion and apprehension.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a basic form of meditation that comes from the Buddhist tradition and is one of the most popular meditative techniques in the Western world. Mindfulness is all about awareness and acknowledgment without judgment and is achieved by finding a quiet place in which you can settle your mind, concentrate on your breathing, and let your thoughts come and go.

Mindfulness is a versatile practice that can be performed anytime and anywhere (such as on a walk, when waking, or as part of your bedtime ritual). When you are being mindful, there is no need to concentrate on any particular thread or emotion; instead, you simply observe the thoughts that cross your mind in the same way you might observe a sky full of fluffy white clouds passing overhead—with passive indifference. You can acknowledge the thoughts that pass but not labor over them or judge them in any way. The goal is simply for you to be aware of them and bring your attention back to the present.

For example, you may know you need to pay your bills; when those thoughts race into your mind, you simply acknowledge they are there but put them on the back burner for the present time. This puts yourself in a better frame of mind to deal with that and any other issues a little later on in the day.

The purpose of mindfulness is to remind you of the ebb and flow of all thoughts and emotions and that nothing lasts forever; this, too, shall pass and you are still in control of your life.

Zazen

Zazen is a general term for seated meditation found in the Buddhist tradition, in the modern Zen practice, and in ASMR. It is a minimalist form of meditation that was developed in the monastic setting and requires little in the way of instruction outside of its posturing. The Zazen practice begins with you sitting on a comfortable surface with your hands resting in your lap (your dominant hand should hold the opposite one, and both palms should face upward).

TINGLE TIP

Experts say that Zazen is a very difficult practice to learn, let alone progress in, because of the lack of instruction associated with it. Given its developmental history, it is a hard technique to adapt to an active world.

As in mindfulness, you concentrate your attention on your breathing pattern and clear your mind of all thought. In the traditional form of the practice, you might contemplate a particular aspect of Buddhist scripture, but in the more modern Zen form, this is not required.

Qigong

Qigong comes from ancient China and utilizes a combination of meditation, breathing techniques, and gentle movement to cleanse, strengthen, and circulate energy throughout your body while promoting tranquility. Known as Chinese yoga, the earliest known record of this practice dates back 2,500 years, though there have been references to Qigonglike techniques that are approximately 5,000 years old. It is considered to be both meditative and rehabilitative due to its posturing and is believed to be suitable for both the young and the young at heart.

Qigong in practice looks similar to other types of yoga exercises and contains thousands of movements and positions. The difference between the moving and nonmoving types of Qigong is the amount of oxygen that is brought into the body from the exercise.

Studies have shown that the Qigong practice can improve posture and respiration, has been known to induce a relaxation “response” (it is unclear if this is in any way related to the ASMR feeling), can cause positive changes in blood chemistry, and may be beneficial for a wide variety of ailments.

Transcendental Meditation

Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a simplified practice derived from the Hindu tradition and one that is most commonly associated with meditative techniques both in ASMR and outside of it. It is a concept that was developed by the Indian guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi as a way in which people can detach themselves from all anxiety and rise above all that is transient in their lives. (Yes, it is the practice that the Beatles studied in the 1960s.)

TM is much more involved than mindfulness and Zazen. In this method, you sit in a full lotus position (legs crossed and each foot resting atop the opposite thigh), close your eyes, and silently chant the assigned mantra for 15 to 20 minutes in order to “transcend” into a perfect state of tranquility, steadiness, rest, and complete absence of thought. Some devotees of this practice even report having out-of-body experiences during their sessions.

DEFINITION

A mantra is a sacred syllable, word, or phrase that is chanted in meditative practices and believed to have spiritual, psychological, or healing power.

TM is generally taught by a certified instructor; is not a strenuous practice; and, according to most experts, is generally a safe practice for healthy individuals.

Kundalini

Kundalini is another meditative technique stemming from the Hindu tradition whose name refers to the energy stream that rises from every human being. Although there are ASMR videos that utilize the body’s chakras, it’s not as common as other types of ASMR content. In this practice, you sit in a lotus position, clear your mind, and focus on your breath as it rises through the body’s seven energy centers (known as the chakras).

The chakras, which are located along the body’s meridian, are said to vibrate at different frequencies and are believed to be connected to people’s spiritual power, as well as their emotional well-being. The chakras include the following:

  • The root chakra: Located at the base of the spine, this chakra provides you with a sense of foundation.
  • The sacral chakra: Found in the lower abdomen, this chakra allows you to meet new people, try new things, and enjoy new experiences.
  • The solar plexus chakra: This chakra is found in the upper abdominal area and offers you the confidence to remain in control of your life.
  • The heart chakra: Located in the center of our chest, this chakra is responsible for your ability to love. It also gives you a sense of inner peace and joy.
  • The throat chakra: This chakra, located in the neck, gives you the ability to communicate with others, be self-expressive, and tell the truth.
  • The third eye chakra: Found on the forehead between your eyes, this chakra is responsible for human intuition, imagination, and intelligence.
  • The crown chakra: Located at the top of the head, this is the chakra that connects you to your spirituality and the infinite. Some people have reported that this is the chakra where they feel the ASMR tingle sensation.

Kundalini experts say this practice is all about awakening and that when you tune into these energy fields, you are empowered to deal with the specific life challenges associated with them.

Heart Rhythm Meditation

The heart rhythm meditation method is one in which you focus your concentration on your breath and heartbeat and use these elements throughout your body in order to re-energize. While the process for this practice is similar to that of Zazen, there are some subtle differences.

The following walks you through this meditation:

  1. Begin in the lotus position (legs folded), making sure to sit up straight so your stomach is not folded over.
  2. Concentrate on your breath and note the changes in its patterns. Feel the oxygen move through your anatomy.
  3. Focus on making your breath deep and rhythmic (giving the same amount of time to your inhale and exhale).
  4. Learn to fully exhale. In other words, exhale three counts longer than your inhale to deplete the air in the body. Do not pause before taking the next breath.
  5. As you breathe, use your pulse as a guide and make each inhale six counts long and each exhale nine counts long.
  6. Hold your breath at the top of the inhale and try to feel your heartbeat. The longer you are able to hold this breath, the louder your heart will sound. This will cause your heart to expand magnetically, which you should feel in your chest.
  7. Master the “squared breath.” Inhale for 6 counts, hold for 12 counts, and exhale for 6 counts. When you can do this for 10 breaths in a row, change up the pattern to a 8-16-8 pattern and then a 10-20-10 rhythm.

DID YOU KNOW?

Experts say that heart rhythm meditation can bring a number of tangible benefits to your life, such as building energy, steadying your heart rate, improving your concentration, making you more intuitive, and enabling you to function well under stress.

Trance-Based Meditation

This practice is one in which you are guided through the contemplative process using a series of induced calming techniques (including imagery and suggestions) that slow your brain wave state and place you into what is known as the theta or trance state. This is also the brain wave state you are in just prior to going to sleep.

Although we will talk in more detail about trance-based practices in Chapter 5, it is important to understand that in this meditative process, you retain full control of your consciousness, even as you are able to withdraw from the world around you, similar to ASMR. This technique is often used in conjunction with audio guidance, one type of which uses binaural beats to help you achieve this state of meditation (see Chapter 10 for more on binaural beats).

Binaural beats are tones presented to your ears through headphones, which work to establish activity in both the left and right sides of your brain and then create a third “sound” in your headspace. This may sound like actual music or something that you might ordinarily think of as noise, but its purpose is to help you detach from reality by turning your thoughts inward and giving you something to concentrate on as you go through the process.

Guided Visualization and ASMR Content

If there is one meditation technique that is most commonly associated with the ASMR community, it is guided visualization. In this practice, which comes from the Buddhist tradition, you assume a comfortable position and are verbally guided into a state of consciousness by another person, whether in a live session or through an audio/video recording.

Traditional Guided Meditation

Guided meditations come in a variety of forms. Originally enjoyed in a yoga studio or in a therapist’s office, guided meditation began to infiltrate the mainstream and be included on record albums, cassettes, CDs, VHS tapes, and eventually DVDs and MP3 files. With the advent of the internet, online video service providers such as YouTube have opened up a whole new world for meditation guides to offer their content in an entirely new way. Guided meditations can be spoken-word narratives or can incorporate music, environmental sounds, and visual images in order to give you something upon which to concentrate.

The actual meditation itself is divided into three parts:

  • As an introduction, you are led through some simple breathing techniques in order to calm your heart rate and begin to relax. You are also asked to perform an “internal scan” in order to release any stress or tension in the body by focusing on various body parts.
  • When both your body and mind are clear, you begin a journey designed to improve a specific aspect of your life. This can include weight loss, smoking cessation, emotional healing, rest, and more. In this way, a guided visualization is similar to the trance-based methodology we covered earlier in this chapter because they both use imagery to enable you to focus on an aspect of your life you want to change.
  • You are finally led back to a state of awareness where you feel rested, rejuvenated, and ready to continue on with your day or settle in for a good night’s sleep (depending on the aim of the meditation).

The following is a sample script of a guided meditation:

Imagine yourself as a child, sitting in the backseat of a car, driving along the highway to an unknown destination on an early summer morning. As you drive beyond the noisy city, you notice there are fewer buildings dotting the landscape. There are not as many distractions along the road, and the world becomes more natural with each passing mile. You look out the window to take in the lush tree line on either side of you and realize the sounds of traffic have also faded away. Pretty soon, you notice that yours is the only car on the road.

The car makes a gentle, sweeping turn onto a long and winding driveway. You can feel that the tires are no longer on concrete and asphalt, but on soft, loamy soil. You have become part of the dense forest you admired from the main road. If possible, the world becomes even quieter than it was as you were driving and a few minutes later, the car rolls to a stop in front of a quaint cottage deep in the heart of this forest. It is your own world. Pleased by the scene in front of you, you step out of the car and touch still, cold earth with your bare feet. You can see the dew has not yet evaporated from the grass, but you can tell already it is going to be a warm summer day. You can hear the birds overhead, and you can smell the rich scents all around you. You close your eyes, hold out your arms, and breathe deeply. You know it is going to be a perfect holiday.

With the pads of your feet making soft imprints into the soil, you walk toward the cottage and peer inside. It is perfect. You can see a big, comfortable bed waiting for you and you know that you will be happy here. You walk around the perimeter of the cottage and out of the shadows of the sprawling trees to feel the summer sun on your skin. It is warm and wonderful—hot, but not too hot. You turn your head to the sky and realize it is not only the perfect shade of blue, but also absolutely cloudless.

Beyond your comfortable cottage, you can see a shimmering lake; you long to sit beside it and gaze across its silvery waters. You notice a path leading away from your cottage and decide to follow it, knowing instinctively it will take you where you want to go. The path is a slow and leisurely one, which you do not mind at all. It slopes gently and is surrounded by ornamental grasses that rustle in the slight breeze, as well as foliage and flowers of every color of the rainbow. You breathe in their scent as you walk along, descending deeper and deeper into this world. You cannot hear anything but the symphony of nature all around you: the songs of the birds overhead, the low moan of a frog before he splashes into the water, and the soft buzz of a bee gathering nectar for his honeycomb.

Finally, you come to the clearing where the lake, clear and bright, stretches out before you. You look out across it to see your cottage off in the distance—not too close and not too far away. There is a small, sandy beach at this spot. It is pristine and perfect, as though no other person has ever been there. You walk toward the water and dip your toe in to test the temperature. It is not too hot, nor is it too cold. It is just right and it is calling to you to join it.

You take off your clothes until you are down to your bathing suit and wade into the water, feeling the cool mud ooze between your toes. You let the water envelop your body a little at a time. It moves past your ankles … your knees … your thighs … your hips … deeper and deeper you walk until the water reaches your chest and you let go, succumbing to the sensation and knowing you are relaxed, happy, and free. As you bathe in this water, you feel as light as a feather with no pressures left inside. You have no cares in this world. All you have is this moment and you surrender yourself to it. The sun warms your face and the exposed areas of your body and you feel amazing. You are calm. You are relaxed. You are at peace.

When you emerge from the lake, you are refreshed and rejuvenated. The warm sand invites you to lie down, spread your arms out, and rest in its comfort and in the warmth of the sun. You lie down and stare into the infinite sky above you, feeling connected to both it and the earth somehow. You hear the birds singing around you and smell the scents of nature wafting in on the soft summer breeze. It is almost euphoric and you cannot imagine being any more relaxed than you are right now. You are on your holiday. You are in your world. You are free.

TINGLE TIP

While guided meditations are a great way to achieve inner stillness and peace, some people find the practice difficult to master if they are unable to visualize what the guide is referring to or have trouble taking themselves out of their present state and into the narrative.

ASMR Guided Meditation

ASMR role-play videos have a lot of similarities to traditional guided meditations even though they may look like two vastly different things. An ASMR guided meditation strives to achieve the same exercises as a traditional meditation, but against a familiar backdrop, such as a physician’s office, hair salon, and so on. For example, in an ASMR role-play of a physician’s visit, the ASMRtist may re-create the traditional breathing exercises while acting as a doctor listening to his patient’s heart through a stethoscope.

Because so many tingle heads seek out ASMR content in order to go to sleep, insomnia and other rest-related maladies may be incorporated into the faux consultation before the doctor ends the appointment with assurances and positive affirmations, similar to the phase-three close of a traditional meditation.

As the ASMR phenomenon has become more popular, many of the YouTube videos listed as “meditations” have been renamed to include the ASMR moniker (though people can get the tingles from these as well). This not only allows these ancient techniques to be included in the vast library of ASMR content, but also demonstrates how one practice has impacted the other. As you will see in future chapters, there is a tremendous amount of crossover in relaxation exercises, and perhaps ASMR is simply the serenity solution for a new generation.

Are you ready to try some ASMR meditations? The following are a few videos to check out that incorporate a variety of known meditative techniques:

The Least You Need to Know

  • Meditation is a practice that has been in existence for thousands of years.
  • Buddha believed that meditation could lead individuals to a state of nirvana.
  • Meditation can reduce your stress and anxiety and assist in reducing a number of other health conditions.
  • ASMR role-plays are influenced by the guided visualization meditation technique.
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