FAQs
Using iAwake Pro
- Hydration: Drink a glass of water prior to listening to the tracks and have one ready for afterwards. Neuroacoustic technologies increase blood flow to the brain, and drinking plenty of water helps your brain rid itself of waste by-products.
- Preparation: If you have rituals such as stretching/yoga, saying a prayer, setting an intention, etc., that help focus you, do so.
- For increased efficacy, listen to the tracks at the loudest COMFORTABLE volume.
- Alternating between gentle and medium/strong tracks (rather than just going for the medium/strong ones) structures a push/recovery model that sports medicine research has demonstrated actually better improves performance.
Most headphones/earbuds will work fine with iAwake Pro's tech. That said, higher quality headphones/earbuds deliver higher quality sound, which in turn tends to amplify the efficacy of the underlying technology.
These recordings are best listened to at the highest COMFORTABLE volume.
Listen to tracks marked "strong" or "medium” about 2 hours in total. Tracks tagged "gentle" you can listen to for many hours. We suggest alternating intensities. The Starter Kit has been laid out this way, alternating stronger tracks with gentler ones.
Question: I have a question about noise while you are listening to the programs with headphones. For example, if you can hear the hum of a fan or air conditioner while you are listening to the tracks, does that interfere with the brainwave entrainment component of the programs?
Answer: As long as you set the volume at a comfortable range, where you can hear the soundtrack clearly, distinctly, and comfortably, then any noise in the background should not interfere.
5 Hz - 30,000 Hz Studio/Audiophile grade headphones with excellent reviews:
Sony MDR-V6 Monitor Series Headphones with CCAW Voice Coil
Shure SRH940 Professional Reference Headphones (Silver)
V-MODA Crossfade LP2 Limited Edition Over-Ear Noise-Isolating Metal Headphone (Matte Black)
Here are some of the headphones people within the community have been recommending and finding helpful:
Sony MDRXB400/BLU Extra Bass Headphones
Earbuds
BOSE earbuds
Specialized Headphones
SleepPhones® (for people who have trouble sleeping)
Yuni Headphones (single-sided stereo headphones for people with hearing loss in one ear)
Cautions for Using iAwake Pro
iAwake Pro's technology is incredibly benign - yet powerful. That said, we do have some cautions in our disclaimer that are good to know about:
People who have any of the following conditions, whether knowingly or not, should not use these tracks:
- People with epilepsy
People who should consult a physician before the use of these tracks include:
- Pregnant women
- Individuals under the influence of medication or drugs
- People wearing a pacemaker
- Those prone to or who have had seizures
- Those who have a history of photosensitivity
- Individuals who have a history of severe mental illness
These tracks are not to be used while under the influence of alcohol or other mood-altering substances, whether they are legal or illegal.
Children under the age of 18 should be examined by a physician for epilepsy or other illnesses that may contribute to seizures prior to the use of iAwake tracks, since they are more susceptible to seizures.
Finally, DO NOT LISTEN TO ANY iAWAKE AUDIO FILES WHILE DRIVING OR OPERATING MACHINERY.
For the full disclaimer go here.
Occasionally, when people first begin to use this technology, they experience some mild discomfort (mild headache, ears ringing, other physical/emotional symptoms). This is normal and subsides as your body and mind adapt to the audio stimulation – just like when you first exercise in a way that is new for your body, your muscles let you know! Try lowering the volume, listening for shorter periods, or taking a break. The symptoms will subside quickly. Then return to listening.
Note: It is best not to listen to this neurotechnology for more than 2 hours/day, until you’ve learned what works best for your body/mind.
Signs of acute over-training/overwhelm:
- Feeling “on edge”
- Mild headache
- Quick-tempered disposition
- Intense anxiety
- Emotional outbursts
- Etc.
All of these symptoms are merely signs that the nervous system has reached its peak capacity to adapt to the stimulus. They represent only temporary discomfort, meant to act as a cue to decrease the stimulation intensity, and do not present any kind of long-term dangers. Stop using Work Tracks with brainwave tech at this stage, and instead try one of the "gentle" relaxing tracks in Life.
Just as your muscles increase in strength as you work out over time, you'll find that regular use of these tracks will allow you to extend the duration and intensity of the tracks used.
The part mentioning that pregnant women should consult a physician prior to using this technology is there simply as a precaution. However, as everything that happens to and around the mother might affect the baby, as long as what the mother does feels/is positive for her, it should be that way for the baby too. For example, there is an ever-rising number of academic and scientific papers being written nowadays on how beneficial and key having a regular meditation practice is. Yet those who knew this before there was any evidence had to rely on their own experience and judgment.
Since our products have been specifically created to help people focus and relax, the more time a mother spends going into a "bodymind space" which feels serene and safe, the better for the baby. Unfortunately, and unless we find some studies, I can only suggest whoever is willing to consider this does it carefully and at their own risk.
Some people report a temporary increase in tinnitus when using iAwake tracks. We've consulted with experts on this, and first of all they tell us that tinnitus is still a not-very-well understood phenomenon. iAwake won't cause tinnitus, but it can contribute to symptoms flaring for some people. People using headphones listening to any kind of soundtrack can experience increased symptoms. When this occurs, just cease using the tracks till the symptoms go away, then gradually re-introduce using the tracks.
Some people opt to continue using the tracks despite the tinnitus, as they want the effects of the tracks and have become used to dealing with the symptoms.
Some people report a decrease in tinnitus symptoms.
We are interested in this phenomenon and learning whatever we can that will help people, so please write in with any experiences you are having: support@www.iawakepro.com.