To me, its a little like asking how you know you're dreaming or experiencing reality. The only way to know is through transitions, ie transitioning from dreaming to waking. Similarly, I know I am/was in alpha when my mind is clear and focused, the few thoughts that are there are clear and I have a greater detached awareness of them. My body is relaxed and I'm calm. After I come out of it I feel much the same way.
Basically, just follow ALG's steps, if you're relaxed and calm, you're in alpha.
Reason I mention this is cause apparently after practice deeper states start to feel like alpha, so its hard to tell.
ALG has more experience with going deeper than alpha so he might be able to offer more help.
__________________ Mind-Manual
"Pure hell forces action, but anything less can be endured with enough clever rationalization." - Tim Ferriss |