by Danielle Somers

Created on: April 07, 2009   Last Updated: June 29, 2009

Wouldn't it be great if we could channel our hobbies and interests into something that could reduce stress, lower blood pressure, or even boost our immune systems? No, you don't need any special equipment, or any technical know how....all you need is music.

According to www.thinkrightnow.com, there are soothing arrangements with a 60 beat per minute rhythm that they have found to enhance restful sleep, reduce the need for anesthesia in surgery, speed learning, lower blood pressure, and boost the immune system. In addition, www.prod.campuscruiser.com/cruiser/berk, music is said to provide structure, organize our thoughts, provide sensory stimulation, and so much more! Not to mention the best point of all, music is pleasurable!

I don't know about you, but I want to know how this works. Both of the wonderful sites listed above offer such an explanation, but I feel that we need a more detailed answer. After visiting http://stress.about.com/od/tensiontamers/a/music_the rapy.htm I learned the effect the beat of music has on our minds. Music with a strong beat is said to stimulate brainwaves, increasing concentration and sharper thinking. On the contrary, music with a slower beat is said to be calming and induce an almost meditative state. Why are these alterations in brainwaves so important? It is said that these changes can slow breathing and the heart rate, and also be just relaxing. Perhaps this is why listening to music can help to sooth anxiety and depression.

Now that we know the why, how about learning the how. To do this I visited About.com:stress management. Here it is said explained how to use different music at different times to get a variety of results. Did you ever know that listening to some nice soft music while soaking in the tub is music therapy? What about that cd you listen to while you're at the gym, also music therapy.If you would like to know what music can induce what effect, all of the sites listed in this article have audio samples of the music they are talking about.

In my own experience, i would like to add the thought of making music as a form of therapy. While listening to music is great, I feel that making my own is the greatest stress relief of all. For me, that means singing. When I am sad, mad, anxious, and even happy....singing calms me down. Another consideration is writing music, which after all is a poem set to music. While poetry is a gateway to one's soul, a song combines the best of both worlds.

Music Therapy. Great for the mind, body, soul, and so much more. It is this gal's opinnion that the world might be a better place if we'd just all turn on our radios.

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