Biofeedback is used to help you become aware and try to control what normally would be an unconscious physiological function of your body like breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, muscular tension or brain waves by using an electronic recording or display device.

The ultimate goal is to be able to influence the desired bodily function with your mind only without the aid of any equipment.

During a biofeedback session electrodes or sensors are attached to your chest to monitor your heart rate, to your head to monitor your brainwaves or to your wallet to monitor your decreasing bank account with each treatment.

The electrodes are attached to a machine that has a light, buzzer or electronic display that will increase or decrease in intensity according to how well your mind can control your heart rate or brain activity.

As you think about slowing your heart rate, the light will blink slower. This is the feedback you use to let you know if you are successfully slowing you heart rate. This works best if you also don’t think about how the government spends the taxes you pay.

Biofeedback equipment used to be expensive and it was best to see a practitioner who was experienced in this field but there are models you can use yourself.

You can use biofeedback machine to help you relax and to reduce stress. You can learn to know when your muscles are tensed, especially around your face and jaw and control them so reduce your stress level.

With practice you can also learn to quickly slow your heart rate or brain activity, calming you when stressed or to relax before going to bed so you can get a good nights sleep.

Have you ever tried biofeedback? Leave a comment below.