Hi,

I hope you don't mind me jumping in.

I noticed that there's been some discussion of the MindSpa and Procyon systems and I thought some of you might find it useful to hear a comparison of the two systems.

( By the way, I'm the MD of Meditations-UK. We're UK distributors of the MindSpa and Procyon. Chris pointed to us in a post further up this thread ).

One of the main advantages of the Procyon is that it uses multi-coloured Light Glasses. The Procyon uses red, green and blue lights and because these are the three primary light colours they can be combined to form all colours of the spectrum. The state-of-the-art technology used in the Procyon means that the lights are used very effectively to produce very interesting visual effects. There is evidence to show that colour can have important effects on mood and state of mind and so this will be of particular interest for people who wish to experiment with colour.

On the other hand, the MindSpa comes with two sets of glasses. One has white lights, which is a good general purpose colour. The other set is known as CalmBlue Deep Relaxation Glasses. Blue is a particularly relaxing and soothing colour and is especially good for evening or late night use - especially if your eyes are tired after reading or working at a computer. And so you do have some colour capability with the MindSpa, but only to a much more limited extent than the Procyon.

One big advantage of the MindSpa system is that you can use the glasses with your eyes open - while reading for example. This is particularly useful if you are studying new material as there is research to show that we assimilate and retain information more effectively when our brain is operating in the relaxed mode known as the 'alpha' state. It is not possible to use the Procyon's glasses in this way - you must have your eyes shut when using them.

There's a different in approach or 'philosophy' between the two systems that's worth mentioning.

The MindSpa has fewer built-in programs than the Procyon. The MindSpa has 18 built-in programs , whereas the Proteus has 50.The MindSpa is particularly good for people who haven't done much meditation/relaxation before as it contains its 'Progressive Relaxation Method' which provides a structured approach to relaxation and meditation. On the other hand, the Procyon contains a much wider variety of sessions and is more suited for people who like to experiment for themselves to find the sessions that work best for them.

So there you are - I've tried to highlight the main differences between the two systems.

In conclusion, the MindSpa and Procyon are both excellent machines and will provide great benefits over time.

You can learn more about the two systems on our website at Stress Management, Sleep Problem & Relaxation

Regards,

Ivor
Stress Management, Sleep Problem & Relaxation

Thanks for the details Ivor. I am about to order my own Procyon from you because I think my friend wants hers back!

Since the original question was about music to go with the mindspa, I'll also add that very soon we'll have some great music (designed specifically for that) available to download from the site.

Chris

Just to give more food for thought, we had in today this lovely testimonial from a Procyon user.

"I have had my Procyon Meditation Machine for roughly a month now and thought I'd let you know how I'm getting on!
This little gadget is the best thing I have ever spent my money on. My sleep has improved greatly; I have always had a problem with insomnia in the past, and I do a very stressful job which used to bring me home from work feeling wired and unable to relax. I've now got into the habit of using the machine for a ~30 min session when I get home from work, and then again for ~20 mins when I get into bed. I am sleeping better than I ever have before. I have also been using positive affirmations. Having recently been on an Anxiety Management Course, I had learnt some breathing techniques etc which have helped me to overcome panic attacks; The Procyon is disciplining me to focus on my thoughts however, and Im sure I feel positive results already after only a month. Not only that, but I look forward to the sessions and it feels like luxurious "me time"!
PLease let me know if I can offer you a recommendation that you could use in your promotions (or please transcribe what I have written above). It's working wonders for me and I can't thank you enough.
Best wishes,
Kat - Lincolnshire "

We constantly get good feedback from Procyon and MindSpa users. There are more examples of testimonials on our site at MindSpa Mind Machine and Procyon AVS Mind Machine

Ivor

I treated my self to a Procyon last time home, I've not had much time to play with it yet but I'm hoping I will be able to take it away with me on the next trip.

I've been having fun playing with the demo of the SHARM software, great fun but it would be good if you could add light to the sounds so that you could play the results through the Mind spa or the Procyon.

I guess I just want everything


Cheers

Adam

I haven't tried the MindSpa, but I own a Proteus (the predecessor to the Procyon) and have also tried the Procyon.

I think these devices are most useful for those who cannot concentrate or meditate, or have difficulty going into trance. They are good "trance training wheels."

Once sufficient state flexibility is established, they aren't as needed. I personally find external Light & Sound devices, binaural beats, and other external relaxation devices irritating now that I can quiet my mind and body by natural means. I often want the rest of a silent mind instead of the flashing lights andsounds, although sometimes some music can be nice.

That said, I found the Procyon to be much more entrancing than the Proteus, due to the "smoothness" of the new flat LED lights.

Of course, if you are really into this stuff, you should make yourself a Sound Table like my friend Rich has--the experience is unbelievable.

Get 4 transducer speakers and mount them underneath a large, flat bed made of wood with 4 legs. Place a large 2" piece of memory foam on top and lie on it. Pump binaural beats and music through the table and through a Light & Sound device like the Procyon. Be careful not to freak our your nervous system by doing this too much!

Just to add another view, the MindSpa was featured on Channel 5's 'The Gadget Show' a couple of weeks ago.

They had a Focus Group session on Stress Busters where several members of the public looked at and tried out several 'stress busting' systems and then voted for their favourite. The MindSpa was the unanimous winner.

You can see the Focus Group clip at FiveFWD - Focus Group - Stress Busters video from The Gadget Show .

The MindSpa is available at MindSpa Mind Machine

Ivor