How To Use Music Therapy For Stress Relief

How many people suffer from stress these days? Experts tell us that in the west it's the majority of people! That probably accounts for the fact that stress relief programs appear like mushrooms. Some are useless, but many work - and one of the best has proved to be music therapy. It works not only in reducing the stress of grown-ups and kids - but even pets!

This is nothing new, the healing powers of music are well documented. We can read about it in the Ancient Greek myths, and there's a story in the Bible of the king's depressive state being helped by David's harp music.

So What Exactly Is Music Therapy?

There are different types of music therapy. Some involve playing music, but we'll focus on the type that involves listening to music for the purpose of helping the listener to relax and be calm, and so gain anxiety and stress relief.

Meditation is often used with music therapy, and through a combination of listening, correct breathing and guided imagery, we can tap into the deeper levels of the subconscious mind. This affects not only our hormonal balance, but our moods and general health.

How Does Music Do This?

In the months before birth, a baby is surrounded by warmth and security in the mother's womb. The most reassuring sound is the mother's heart beat. Medical experts now claim that when we're in a relaxed state the regular beat or rhythm of music rekindles feelings first experienced before birth.

Slow music with a soft, regular beat can take us back to this time when we had no worries about work, bills and complex relationships. The music can help us to retreat mentally from these everyday concerns as we bask in the soothing and enveloping sounds!

When choosing music as therapy, either for yourself or others, you must choose carefully. Music can be a great stress reliever or a great stress producer! Avoid the tendency to pick music just because you like it. This can have a value, but for deep relaxation and stress relief you need to be more discriminating. And picking 'relaxing' music you hate because you think it will be good for you can have the opposite effectK

Fortunately, professional music therapists can guide us here. They recommend music that has a rhythm of less than 72 beats per minute - that's slower than the heart beat. If the music goes in cycles or repeating segments, so much the better.

Some of the best music for stress relief is to be found in:

* Classical

* Celtic

* Native American

* New Age

Bear in mind that different styles of music can affect the mind differently:

If you're sad and lonely, sad country songs will probably make you feel worse.

If you're stressed and your brain is over-active, hard rock could be the last thing you need. On the other hand, if you've had a particularly boring day at the office, heavy metal could be the best music therapy for you - provided you like it, of course!

When you're facing a challenge and no one else can help, putting on your favorites from the 'old days' of your youth can have a very encouraging effect.

Listening to the music of nature - a babbling brook, birds singing or leaves whispering in the breeze - is a great way to induce a stress-relieving relaxed state. And instrumental music like flutes coupled with bass drums can work wonders.

The Best Way To Enjoy Music Therapy

These tips will help you really feel the benefits of music therapy:

* Set aside a minimum of 20 minutes in a place where you won't be bothered by others

* Relax, either sitting or lying down

* Alternatively, go for a walk in a quiet, relaxing spot and listen to your music through you iPod or portable CD player. Here you can practice regular breathing and enjoy some exercise

* Choose music that's appropriate for your needs; many commercially produced music is ideal for different situations and is often combined with meditations (e.g. on stress relief, on boosting confidence and self-esteem, etc.)

* Make a point of doing this several times a week, or daily if you can.

Once you discover the benefits of music therapy, your health will improve, your emotional life will be more stable and your relationships will improve. You'll wonder how you ever managed without it!

Article Source: Free Content Articles Directory

Prior to investing in any stress relief products visit Frank McGinty's StressReliefGold, and grab your FREE report, Beat Stress - And Start Living. Also, claim your FREE stress-busting 20-minute meditation, The Secret Garden.

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