Chapter 1: The Journey to Gamma Brainwaves

The first time I encountered gamma brainwaves without using any psychoactive substances was during my initial breathwork session. I found myself at the edge of a volcanic crater near the picturesque Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, in a familiar environment. As I lay down, closed my eyes, and the music began, I felt secure enough to surrender and delve deeper.

This music was specifically crafted to guide listeners into profound meditative states, although I was unaware of this at the moment. All I perceived was a deep, resonant frequency that synced with my heartbeat, igniting a mix of nervous excitement.

After taking several deep, rhythmic breaths, I sensed my brain beginning to rewire itself as I let go further into the experience. With a few more deep inhalations, my entire body seemed to dissolve, leaving me enveloped in a blissful state of oneness. It was a surreal sensation, akin to simultaneously traversing backward in time and forward through space, as if I were journeying to an ancient future.

A wave of heat surged and receded, and then a chill ran down my spine. Suddenly, I lost consciousness.

Upon returning, the air felt remarkably still, mirroring the tranquility of my mind. It was undeniably one of the most peaceful experiences I had ever encountered. Though it felt like an eternity, it was likely just a few seconds before I was prompted to move my fingers and toes, reconnect with the sounds around me, and gradually rise to a sitting position.

As I emerged from this state, my mind quickly re-engaged, and an overwhelming curiosity about what had just transpired took hold. With an uncontainable smile, I turned to my friend and asked, “What just happened?!”

It was later that I discovered breathwork is often referred to as "the drug without the drug" for these very reasons.

"If you wish to uncover the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency, and vibration." — Nikola Tesla

That experience ignited a profound and ongoing journey, inspiring me to deepen my understanding of breathwork, become a facilitator, guide others, and document my experiences.

This excitement stems from the fact that gamma brainwaves, though infrequently experienced, can be life-altering.

Before I delve deeper, take a look at the chart below.

Gamma brainwaves are part of a spectrum of five different brainwave categories, and understanding how to navigate each one is crucial for experiencing them. Pay close attention to the activity levels, wave shapes, speeds, and associated qualities of each brainwave type. Can you guess which brainwave type dominates your daily life? I’ll reveal the answer shortly.

If you guessed beta brainwaves (characterized by alertness and active thinking), you’re correct. These traits are essential for functioning effectively in today’s world, which is why we predominantly remain in this state. Beta brainwaves enable us to perform daily tasks like driving, attending meetings, reading, cooking, and more.

However, accessing our subconscious entails transitioning from beta brainwaves to alpha (creative and relaxed), then to theta (meditative and intuitive), and finally reaching gamma brainwaves (expanded consciousness and heightened perception). Delta brainwaves, often associated with deep sleep or profound meditation, will be omitted here since they are less relevant to everyday breathwork practices.

If you’re interested in learning more about delta brainwaves, I suggest exploring dream interpretation or similar avenues that delve into the dream state.

Accessing Alpha Brainwaves

To tap into alpha brainwaves, one must cultivate a calm, open, and creative mindset. Naturally, adopting a relaxed and rhythmic breathing pattern facilitates this state. Research shows that rhythmic breathing can open the heart, soothe the mind, and calm the nervous system, all of which enhance alpha brainwave activity.

Other methods to evoke alpha brainwaves include spending time outdoors, engaging with pets, storytelling, enjoying music, dancing, reading, socializing, and creating art.

Entering Theta Brainwaves

On the other hand, accessing theta brainwaves necessitates entering a deeper meditative state. Therefore, slowing the breath even further will foster theta brainwave activity. A beneficial practice is the 4:8 breathing pattern (inhale for 4 seconds, exhale for 8 seconds), which calms the nervous system and promotes deeper consciousness.

Theta brainwaves can also be reached through profound meditation, chanting, sound healing, and hypnotherapy.

Experiencing Gamma Brainwaves

Lastly, we arrive at gamma brainwaves, which represent the higher frequencies of the mind. Achieving this state requires both a relaxed and open mind (alpha or theta states) and a high-energy body. This combination allows for lucid access to the subconscious while experiencing heightened emotions such as joy, bliss, and gratitude.

These positive emotions have proven to have a higher vibrational frequency than negative emotions such as fear or anger, which can sometimes trigger gamma brainwaves. However, accessing this state is not as straightforward as reaching the other brainwave groups, and no guarantees exist. Nonetheless, when experienced, the effects are profoundly transformative.

Typically, gamma brainwaves are more readily achieved during extended breathwork sessions or intense breath control exercises. While substances like MDMA or other psychoactive drugs can induce gamma states, they require external factors, making them feel somewhat limited. In contrast, breathwork is always accessible and free, offering a valuable alternative.

Discover more about my personal journey with breathwork in the next section.

The first video, "The Most Powerful Strategy To ReProgram Your Mind | Dr. Joe Dispenza," offers insights into harnessing the power of the mind for transformation.

What Is Brainwave Music?

Brainwave music is based on the principle that everything in the universe is in constant motion and vibration. Since everything vibrates, it produces sound, and these sounds create frequencies that can resonate with each other, forming a natural alignment.

Both negative and positive thoughts similarly influence this dynamic, albeit in less apparent ways.

"For many of us, the brain tends to function at a specific level. By altering brainwave activity, it becomes much easier for the brain to adjust its speed as necessary." — Harold Russell

Here are three of my favorite frequencies:

• 7.83 Hz — The Earth’s frequency (known as the Schumann resonance)
• 432 Hz — Used for energy healing
• 528 Hz — The frequency at the heart of everything in the universe, from the sun to the pyramids to rainbows

You can find countless hours of free brainwave music on platforms like YouTube, ranging from short clips to extended sessions. Explore this music, discover what resonates with you, and allow the frequencies to work their magic.

"We may be sitting on one of the most widely available and cost-effective therapeutic modalities that ever existed." — Turow

Harold Russell, a clinical psychologist, used sound therapy to aid his wife's recovery from a severe stroke. "One day, she told me the fog just lifted," he recounted.

Harold Russell's experience is not unique; brainwave music, or binaural beats, is increasingly used to assist individuals with ADD, depression, sleep disorders, and anxiety. It also enhances blood circulation, brain activity, and cognitive function in the elderly.

This is due, in part, to how brainwave music helps to reorganize brainwave activity, enhancing overall brain functionality and facilitating spontaneous healing, as the body naturally seeks to harmonize.

Our role is simply to support this harmonization process.

Soma Breath incorporates brainwave music as a key element in their breathwork sessions for these reasons, and based on my own experiences, I wholeheartedly recommend it. Combining specially designed brainwave music with rhythmic breathing creates a truly unique experience!

If the power of breathwork has inspired you, consider exploring Soma Breath for yourself or sign up for a free online masterclass.

The second video, "TRY THIS For 7 Days To Completely CHANGE YOUR LIFE In 2022! | Dr. Joe Dispenza & Jay Shetty," presents transformative practices that can significantly improve your life.