Musical Monday -- Good Vibrations

To celebrate the end of summer in some parts of the world, Musical Monday features a Beach Boys classic tune.

Rolling Stone Magazine counts Good Vibrations as #8 on their Readers’ Poll 10 Greatest Summer Songs list, and #5 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

“I’m pickin’ up good vibrations

She’s giving me excitations

Good, good, good, good vibrations”

-- The Beach Boys, Good Vibrations

In 1966, The Beach Boys released the rock masterpiece Good Vibrations, a groundbreaking mosaic of session recordings, and the industry’s most expensive single when it was released. The song represented a big departure from hits like Surfin’ USA and I Get Around for The Beach Boys.

Mike Love’s lyrics reflected the exploding flower power culture in the U.S., and Brian Wilson’s music was inspired by his Mother’s belief that people give off vibrations. Wilson was reportedly frightened by the concept of life force vibrations as a child and the feeling went on to inspire him to greatness.

The concept of life energy has been studied for over ten thousand years in the Far East. Chi, as it’s known in Chinese medicine, is the core of many health and wellness practices such as Massage, Yoga, Reiki and Acupuncture.

Maintaining a balanced energy flow through the body is growing in importance in Western medicine and culture as well.

What techniques do you use to ensure a healthy flow of energy through your body? How do you know when you are in mental and physical balance? What do you do when you feel out of balance in some way?

Mindful in Manhattan

“If I can be mindful here, I can be mindful anywhere.” While not exactly what Frank Sinatra sang about in New York, New York, the analogy certainly works. There aren’t many more interruptive places on earth than New York City. So naturally this is where I decided to get serious about my meditation practice.

I’ve meditated in majestic temples across Asia, but have never committed to a regular practice. It’s inspiring to turn your thoughts inward while surrounded by magnificent golden Buddha’s or chanting Monks.

It gets a bit harder to focus on being present when surrounded by 8.5 million people and the musical sounds of Manhattan.

In search of the perfect place to get centered in New York City, I wondered into Inscape (www.inscape.life) and fell in love with myself. Trying all the different guided meditation techniques was as heady as tasting my way through an exotic cocktail menu. Today I’ll try mantra and mindfulness, tomorrow relaxation and vision…

Within two weeks I was in a state of bliss and committed to a mindfulness practice that can travel with me anywhere.

In case you don’t live near an inspiring meditation center, a guide is already in your pocket or purse. Healthline.com recently rated the top mediation apps of 2017 and inspired a great dialog on the subject. If you are interested in trying a new mediation app, I recommend you check out the article and comments for a great list of options. 

http://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/top-meditation-iphone-android-apps#1

How do you get centered? Do you prefer group mediation or private reflection? If you have a meditation practice, how has it changed over time?