Heal, Destress and Meditate with the Power of Music

Many people are familiar with the concept behind music therapy, but not everyone thinks to incorporate this into their own life. Armed with the knowledge that listening to certain types of music can lift your mood or alter it in other desirable ways, you can create your own reality. This knowledge can also inform your decision when it comes to music that would negatively affect you.

One of the most obvious things that music does is alter your mood. The next time you’re feeling down, think about what kind of music you feel like listening to. It might be that you instinctively go for something sad to match your mood. When you catch yourself doing that, pick out music that feels joyful to you, and listen to that instead. Before you know it, you’ll be feeling better. One thing that happens in your body is that your brain waves shift to match the tempo of the music. A faster tempo will enhance your alertness and lengthen your concentration span.

A study at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore discovered that listening to music that you find to be joyful can actually improve your cardiovascular health. When participants in a study listened to joyful (in their opinion) music, their blood vessels dilated by as much as twenty three percent. Meanwhile, when they listened to music that caused them anxiety, their blood vessels constricted as much as nine percent. Hearing music you enjoy can increase blood flow throughout your entire body.

Music also directly affects heart rate as well as breathing rate. To slow down, relax, and meditate, listening to music that is calming can help you relieve stress and enter a meditative state. Decreasing stress levels is one of the best things you can do for your health, both physically and mentally, so the next time you turn the stereo on, think about your choice in music and how it will affect you.

Additionally, many of my past students have had difficulty in quiting their mind to be able to enter a meditative state in order to be able to communicate with their animal friends. Music is a great way to help get into that space that allows you to better hear your animal friends.

One of the most obvious things that music does is alter your mood. The next time you’re feeling down, think about what kind of music you feel like listening to. It might be that you instinctively go for something sad to match your mood. When you catch yourself doing that, pick out music that feels joyful to you, and listen to that instead. Before you know it, you’ll be feeling better. One thing that happens in your body is that your brain waves shift to match the tempo of the music. A faster tempo will enhance your alertness and lengthen your concentration span.

A study at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore discovered that listening to music that you find to be joyful can actually improve your cardiovascular health. When participants in a study listened to joyful (in their opinion) music, their blood vessels dilated by as much as twenty three percent. Meanwhile, when they listened to music that caused them anxiety, their blood vessels constricted as much as nine percent. Hearing music you enjoy can increase blood flow throughout your entire body.

Music also directly affects heart rate as well as breathing rate. To slow down, relax, and meditate, listening to music that is calming can help you relieve stress and enter a meditative state. Decreasing stress levels is one of the best things you can do for your health, both physically and mentally, so the next time you turn the stereo on, think about your choice in music and how it will affect you.