When you think of higher awareness and spirituality it is not often that you think of equipment, machines, instruments, devices, monitors and biofeedback software. It is more likely you will think of nature, trees, silence, meditation, relaxation and a peaceful life without technology or computer stress. Although today more than ever, spirituality and technology are being used co-operatively, allowing the evolution of technology to aid in the evolution of spirituality. Biofeedback therapy is on the cutting edge of this marriage between our right and left brains. Many people are turning to biofeedback to help them become more aware and present in daily life.

What is Biofeedback?

Biofeedback is a system of monitoring and measuring one’s physiological and biochemical activities such as heart rate, skin temperature, sweat glands, brain waves, muscle tension and blood pressure through a set of sensors, while offering this information ‘real-time’. The purpose of biofeedback is to make you conscious of your otherwise ‘unconscious’ bodily functions, in order to gain awareness and conscious control of the mind and body state. For instance, if you find your heart rate is fast, you may be able to breathe deeply, relax, and slow your heartbeat to gain a sense of calm.

Many people are using biofeedback therapy from meditation teachers and life coaches to alternative doctors, psychologists and physical therapists. Biofeedback has been known to help with a myriad of health issues including headaches, stuttering, pain, epilepsy, high and low blood pressure, movement disorders, anxiety, and even ADHD.

Biofeedback for Spiritual Wellness

During biofeedback you will most likely be hooked up to a sensor that monitors your biochemical processes and translates them to computer generated images through biofeedback software. These soft and light sensors may be placed on your ear, your fingertips, or your temples, depending upon your therapist and her particular equipment. Depending on the reason and method of biofeedback therapy, you may be asked to visualize, do breathing exercises, talk about your issues, imagine different scenarios, or meditate.

Biofeedback therapy usually has a very visual and interesting way of presenting the feedback. For instance, if you are receiving therapy for anxiety you may be hooked up to a computer screen with varying visual effects to show the difference in your bodily processes. Many of these programs use color and light to explain the differences in your heart rate, pulse, and muscle tension. One example is a computer screen that shows a small child looking at the earth. When you are first hooked up to the sensors, the visual may show only little specks of light coming from the heart area of the child. These visuals are biofeedback visuals of your body state. After doing deep breathing exercises or visualizing something pleasant and loving, you may open your eyes to find that the child on the computer screen has a flowing pink light emanating from his heart and enveloping the earth. This is just one way that biofeedback can show you how much your energy changes when you calm your mind and breathing.

Biofeedback: Journey to Wild Divine & Healing Rhythms

The most popular biofeedback systems today are programs called The Journey to Wild Divine and Healing Rhythms. Both programs or ‘games’ are backed by many leaders in the health and healing communities, such as Dr. Andrew Weil, Dr. Dean Ornish, and Dr. Deepak Chopra. These programs use biofeedback in a computer program that is much like a game. Using biofeedback and creative visualization, you can put yourself in meditative mind states that allow you to open doors, juggle balls and move objects. If you are not able to claim a relaxed and calm mind state, the biofeedback devices will keep the doors from opening or the balls from floating. These programs have been developed to allow people to bring biofeedback into their lives to increase awareness and gain conscious control of their mind and body states.