Since I love music and cannot live without it, I have decided to do a little research as it does bring a positive vibe and benefits to my daily life. And now for fact that music 'therapy' is the most convenient way to calm yourself (to me, more than anything else. 'retail therapy' does nothing to me in general and I am pass that ;)).
Music is a universal language and it can open the doors to empathy and understanding. Perhaps listening to music that expresses life experiences from different perspectives will naturally nurture more tolerance and empathy towards life around us. Music is an art of expressing ideas and emotions in beautiful forms like rhythm, melody, tones, harmony, humming, etc. Also, music is a feeling which is loved by everyone, and there is always music present relating to your mood. Agree? If I take it from my own perspective - music to me, is a routine and is like air, present everywhere and anywhere. Whenever an emotion overcomes me, music comes to my rescue and makes me feel better (always, no doubt :)). And how can music improve our life? Let's have a look.
1. Music helps us to exercise (my favourite for sure;))
Many of us like to listen to different kinds of music while working out. Music helps us to concentrate on exercise hence distracting us from looking at the watch again and again. Anything that gets you off the sofa is great, however a bit of upbeat music is recommended while exercising to increase oxygen intake (;)).
2. Music can help us sleep better
According to Sleep Foundation 'Listening to music can also contribute to relaxation by soothing the autonomic nervous system responsible for controlling automatic or unconscious processes. Music improves sleep through calming parts of the autonomic nervous system, leading to slower breathing, stable heart rate, and reduced blood pressure'. There are different kinds of music, which will keep you at ease, making you sleep peacefully. Ocean waves, flutes sound, cascading waterfalls, falling leaves, and chirping birds are few examples of the same are few of my favourites to be mentioned :).
3. Music can positive affect on your immune system
Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is an important antibody for our first line of defense immune system. According to research, a group of people was exposed to different kinds of music for some time. So, people who were exposed to the calming music had a natural rise in IgA than others (yeeey, amazing). Hence exposure to soothing music might improve immunity.
4. Music reduces stress and anxiety
Research has shown that listening to music with a slow tempo or instrumentation (such as piano music - my favourite Yiruma, River flows in you ;)) can put people at ease and calm them down even during highly stressful or painful events. Beside music can prevent anxiety, increase heart rate and blood pressure.
5. Music decreases pain
Music has a unique ability to contribute to pain management. In a study by The National Center for Biotechnology Information, patients undergoing spine surgery were instructed to listen to desired music a few hours before their surgery and until the next day after their surgery. What they found (when measured on post-surgery pain levels) was, that the group had significantly less pain than a group that didn’t listen to music. So here you go :).
Now get your headphones, put on some of your favourite music and sing or even dance away into a new day.
Until next time, S.
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