I'm sorry to all the cynical naysayers on the Emwave 1 page (most of whom seem like they need a serious dose of chill-out, my friends!). I think this thing is super-cool.
Background: I'm almost 10 years sober and have done a lot of work meditating, and basically just developing a common-sense spiritual practice that includes stuff like The Power of Now.
I just need something fun to sort of force me to sit and do the breathing thing. A motivator, if you will. If it looks cool and fun, all the better.
Yes, this is a bit pricey, but in all fairness you can see the amount of serious work that went into this thing. The software that comes with it (which thankfully does work on my Mac -- was a bit worried about that) has tutorials and a really pro interface. It's fun to sit and watch it. (I realize I'm suddenly sounding like an ad, but this is a positive review, so!) It has "games" like the Coherence Coach, which I'm sort of half-assedly doing as I type this, which has relaxing music and a gentle voice leading you through relaxation techniques. I see three other games I haven't clicked on yet, one of which is a garden where color appears as you relax.
Maybe this stuff wasn't in the Emwave 1; I have no idea. Just heard about it from a review on Stresseraser, which was the first device I was considering over Xmas.
Okay, now I'm running the Garden Game. This is goofy and fun. Little twinkles as you change "coherence levels." Very relaxing.
I also dig:
1) Rechargeable. No batteries. I wonder how long the charge lasts, though. And now that I think about it, this could be a "con" if I'm traveling without a laptop. Maybe an adaptor would do the trick? Note to self: Need to find out. Anyway, still think it's a "pro."
2) Ear clip! I didn't think this was a big deal until I started writing this review while using the device.
Finally, I'd like to address the notion of "half-assed," which is how I'm using this device at this moment.
Sometimes it's a good thing. Like most of us with chronic stress, I'm a hideous, horrible perfectionist. I read a negative review where someone was complaining that they would be about to "achieve" the highest rating and then would get stressed about getting there, which would lead to them "losing" the rating.
This sort of thing (which I, too, am prone to ... I'm the one buying a stress-related machine, after all) underscores the idea that a machine alone can't help you relax. It has to be a tool in conjunction with "attitude" (or, if you don't object to the term, spiritual) work. I recommend The Power of Now and The Sedona Method. (Also AA, which has worked wonderfully for me.)
Like the saying, "life is a journey, not a destination," relaxation is a process, not a goal.
It's obsessive goal-seeking (and believe me I know all about this) that creates so much misery in our world today: living in and for the future, instead of celebrating what's happening at this very moment. Breathing in. Breathing out. Writing a goofy review on Amazon. Watching a 9-point field of Verdana letters expand as I click little keys on a little keyboard. The sound of traffic outside my window. My cat snoring behind me.
This is what it's all about. Right now. And it's good.
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(p.s. paid 150 for this on amazon, but now, only a few days later, see it's 228! i probably wouldn't have bought it for this price! it seems worth it, but just fyi guess i was lucky, and hope you will be, too!)
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update 1/16 - actually using it
I finally got around to using it the "right" (or most intensive) way, with the "healing hands visualizer," which is basically like one of the iTunes "visualizers", but which changes color based on your "coherence" level. Great if you don't mind a wee bit of New Age-y music and vibe.
If you're more techno-music oriented, there's also a visualizer under "coherence coach" called water droplet that's nice. And there's an option to upload your own playlist.
I guess one of my fears with this was that I'd never _actually_ use it, but it was a very relaxing experience. Really soothing, and I upped my first official "tracked" score by stopping looking at whether I was in "coherence" and simply thinking about happy memories.
I think this is going to be an excellent way to renew my daily meditation practice.
Still really happy with this purchase.
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update 1/24 - stress to non-stress
I had an interesting experience last night.
Had a bit of bad financial news, so suddenly been stressed about money, but thought I was doing okay. Put on the emwave 2 before bed, and was shocked to see that, in fact, I was in "ALL-red" non-"coherence."
Came over to the computer to plug it in, and saw my heart was, in fact, racing compared to previous sessions. I was in only 15% coherence (on "Low" challenge, no less!), where I'm usually 70-90%!
Ran the "coherence coach."
The interesting thing was, while the regular breathing helped to get me into coherence somewhat, it only REALLY started going down when I started replacing my fearful thoughts ("if I don't make money I'm what will I do, I'm screwed, etc.") with thoughts like "I've always been taken care of," "everything's always worked out," and better YET, REMEMBERING / PICTURING times of plenty and safety (which have always followed fearful times, one way or another: which proves everything works out).
Tinnitus
This is revolutionary for me. I'd also like to mention I'm also a tinnitus sufferer, although an audiologist told me not to talk about it because it gives in "energy." But I think it's more important to share helpful news. Like many, I've noticed when the ringing is "mysteriously" louder, looking back I can see stressful circumstances surrounding it (it'll even "turn up in volume" very noticeably after a stressful thought). This device reminds me that, while tinnitus may not be under my control per se, my reactions ARE under my control! Another thing I noticed after reading the reviews of StressEraser (which I was considering buying first), was that when I'm stressed, 9 times out of 10 if I check my breathing I'll see I'm actually "holding" my breath, essentially choking off my air supply!
Summary
My conclusion is that by practicing more positive thoughts, avoiding resentment and cynicism (even cranky reviews, "feedback" or forums online ... you know what I mean), paying attention to my breathing and replacing fearful thoughts with safe thoughts, I can minimize negativity that's "hiding in the background" -- i.e., I may THINK I'm "handling it," but physiologically my heart rate and breathing tell a different story.
This is why I got this. To develop the PRACTICE of de-stressing.
Re-ran the emwave with the positive thinking, and instantly went back to 88% coherence. Wows! (It also helps to not obsessively watch your "progress" ... just breathe and think positive stuff. When connected to the computer I'll even close my eyes some sessions so I can't see my coherence level, then look at "score" afterward. I seem to score as well or better like that.)
If you get it, be sure to use the computer "coherence coach," and make those thoughts POSITIVE, it seems to be working!
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