Mashable: Can you even meditate without new-age music?
UC's Dr. Rekha Chaudhary weighs in on music's impact on meditation
Swirling synth drones, plucky zither, vibrating gongs, whirring bowls, chirping birds, crashing waves. These sounds have become common backing tracks as a disembodied voice projects from our phones, guiding us to get comfortable and notice our breath.
The rise of meditation apps has kicked off a resurgence of at-home practices heavy on the new-age music and ambient sound. But do you really need music to meditate? And if so, are these nature-inspired tunes with faux-Eastern twists always the best choice when you want to relax?
Dr. Rekha Chaudhary, adjunct associate professor at the UC College of Medicine and UC Health oncologist who is also a member of the UC Center for Intergrative Health and Wellness, provides insight.
Featured photo courtesy of Unsplash/JD Mason.
Related Stories
UC CubeCats satellite makes hiss-tory at NASA
April 2, 2026
UC Students Launch First Satellite April 8. Help Send Bearcats to NASA Liftoff as they make history for UC and Ohio.
Students crack investors’ playbook through venture capital competition
April 2, 2026
The world’s largest venture capital competition came to the University of Cincinnati in late February, letting students be VCs for a day and giving startups a chance to sharpen fundraising skills.
UC names Suzanne Judd, PhD, as inaugural director of new Center for Public Health
April 2, 2026
Following an extensive national search, the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine has appointed Suzanne E. Judd, PhD, as the inaugural director of its newly established Center for Public Health. Judd, a renowned epidemiologist and interdisciplinary scholar, will lead the center’s mission to transform community health through innovative research, education and strategic advocacy.