Concept of Sound-Healing & Music Therapy
When sounds are combined and organised ‘mathematicaly’ into patterns, rhythms, melodies, and chords, the sounds then become known as music. In a nutshell, music is sound organised in a space-time framework. Treatment or healing through musical tunes and intervention is called Music therapy. Music Therapy is an emerging and socially benefitting field in not only music and holistic treatment stream but also gradually occupying its place in medical science.
How Music works on the body
Indian classical music employed as an instrument of music therapy is unique in its pursuit and practice — drawing notes from deep within and using it to pulsate and vibrate a targeted chakra. Chakra is the energy centers human body. Each chakra has a rhythmic pulsation or vibration. Chakras are the primary organs of your body/s subtle energy system that corresponds with and affects specific areas of your physical body.
There are seven prime subtle energy centers or chakras in our center of the spine from our seat to head and above. In short, each chakra has a sound vibration which resembles the saptswaras in Indian music: Sa sound vibrates on Muladhara, Re (Komal) on Swadishthana, Ga on Manipura, ma is the heart chakra, Pa is the throat chakra, Dha (Komal) on the forehead agya chakra and Ni vibrates on Sahasrara or pituitary gland. Thus, musical notes help in activating chakras and the related organs of the body. Since ragas are the amalgamation of notes, ragas are extensively used for healing the body chakras and panchbhootas.
What is Indian classical music and how it heals the body
Indian classical music employed as an instrument of music therapy is unique in its pursuit and practice — drawing notes from deep within and using it to pulsate and vibrate a targeted chakra. In Indian musical culture, music therapy is based on the usage of ragas and rasa. Ragas are arrangements of notes in a way such as to elicit a rasa — “emotions and psychological responses to that particular set of melodies” inducing various physiological and emotional changes based on the way it flows and changes.
Stress and anxiety
The Google Trends data suggests that stress levels in India skyrocketed during the lockdown, with search levels for stress exceeding that of several other countries that were under lockdown over the past few weeks. And along with stress, searches for therapy also have risen in the country. Experts say that mental health is key to get people through this
lockdown as well as in the treatment of those infected and in isolation. Especially when every form of communication and conversation is centered around the virus.
Below are the common stressors which seem to be occurring frequently during the lockdown and Corona outbreak. The majority of the people are not very happy and positive about this new, unexpected situation which has arrived in people’s lifetime.
Sleep impairment: Physiologically, the root cause of sleep impairment is the lack of routine and physical activity and exhaustion. Mentally, there can be able of reasons like the anxiety of missing the office-life, unwishful inevitable duties of housework, worry about job and money, lack of alcohol in addiction, and so on.
Anxiety, mood swings, household frustrations, reduced/missing social life, are some of the common causes of stress in the present situation.
Steps to Overcome the Above Stressors Through Music
Play any Music while Cooking or doing Household chores: Believe it or not, this is helpful. Turn on your favourite songs while working in the kitchen. Even the passive listening of the songs imprints positively on the brain nerves and helps to reduce unnecessary anxiety and agitation. Even if you don’t listen, sound waves are penetrating your body for a good mood.
Always listen to Raga (Therapeutic Music) in the morning: Listen to some therapeutic music even if you don’t have an interest. Always create a balance between ‘should’ and ‘want’. We like to listen to peppy numbers by Neha Kakkar, Arijit Singh, etc. which is enjoying but may not be healthy. It’s like we take pills though we don’t like it. Take 5–10 minutes for some classical music like Ragas, Mozart, etc. which affects our mind, brain, and body in an accurate way.
Om Chanting Meditation : There are ample researches on why one should chant or listen to OM. Om is much beneficial for relaxation, brain-functions, and regulated emotions as well. In case of any religious filters, you may also chant — O, A Ae, OO, EE, etc. Not only Om, but One must also try Eimmm, Aimm, Oomm, Ummm.
A study was conducted to test whether rhythmic formulae, namely, recitation of the rosary and yoga mantras can synchronise and reinforce inherent cardiovascular rhythms and modify baroreflex sensitivity. There were 23 healthy volunteers. It was observed that during both prayers and mantras, there was an increase in the synchronicity of cardiovascular rhythms when they were recited six times a minute.
Here is my favorite link on Aum chant:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpMHztBnz_I
Listen to Nature Sounds — Nature sounds are the first musical notes ‘Nada’ through which saints invented musical swaras. Don’t miss out on these golden moments to be close with nature, because you will never meet this silence after the lockdown. Sunrise-gaze, birds-chirping, breeze-feel, grass-walk, trees-sounds, sky-colors, sunset-shades, blossoming flowers, rains-tip tip, are exuberating to the eyes plus they have the power to keep one away from all the tensions and mundane thoughts. Take an aloof walk and experience these nature sounds which exist in both the lokas: within and outside us.
Tanpura sound — Any monophonic/single tonic sound is very healing, rejuvenating, and decreases the thinking part. Tanpura is a drone instrument that gives a monophonic sound, which gives immense stability, sustenance, tranquillity to the mind, and helps one connect with his/her own etheric body. Download a tanpura app and tune it to C-pitch and just listen/sing with earplugs on. You may find the difference in your overall attitude.
Ragas and Songs for different emotional fluctuations — Indian classical Ragas are the best aspect of therapy or healing through music interventions. The therapeutic aspect of ragas is that they give the effect of only a few notes repetitively unchanged. Ragas gives particular characteristic tunes that last in our head for a longer time affecting the chakras and organs of the body.
People who are facing stress-related issues should first analyze the root cause of their stress whether is it any insecurity of job, fear; is it through any physiological issue like digestion or lack of movement. One must listen or meditate on tunes accordingly. However, there are ragas for toxins reduction, digestion issues, cough, speech, etc. so listening to the ragas minimum for 30 minutes helps but in serious matters, Raga intervention may be considered ADJUNCTIVE TREATMENT. One should try to cure himself through diet, lifestyle, and medications and simultaneously try music listening as well.
No therapy or Yoga works if the mind is entitled to be restless. So, peep inwards and find the reasons for your mood swings yourself. See if is it your wrong habits, beliefs, opinions, and lifestyle might be a cause of your anxiety? Are you demanding/expecting some perfections from your close ones? Or are you trying hard unnecessary to be a perfect (Wife, mom, dad, husband…)? Here are the generic steps you must follow to detach yourself from different tags:
Anxiety and Mood Swings due to Tridosha: Subtle anxiety and mood swings primely cause through the tridoshas issues, in Ayurveda what is called sufficiency or deficiency of one of the five elements in the body: Air, Water, fire, ether, and earth. Commonly these Tridoshas are known as Vata-Pitta-Kapha. Medically, deficiency of certain mineral salts and chemicals may cause mood swings and irritation. For instance, lack of sodium (Salts), the sufficiency of uric acid, less/more sugar in the body may be the cause of over-perceiving kinds of stuff.
Do not indulge in full-time household chores: I know it’s easier to say than done, but people should not be attached to the perfection of tasks especially women. Women are over-obsessive about cleanliness and household task perfection. They are hyper-concerned about the systematic-ness of the household, which leads them to unnecessary expectations. Just chill and relax. Tell yourself, “It’s okay, all is well; if for once the dishes are left in the basin, it’s okay, we can wash them tomorrow with more energy. it is not important than my peace of mind.” It’s better to take a break and relax from home tasks rather than straining and getting mad on others. Try short power naps /eye-close technique amidst the cook, clean, and cloths. Of course, divide tasks with other family members cheerfully but do not crib because it dint happen the way you want.
Read a book for 5–10 minutes — Reading is a good source of relaxation and contentment as books are complete in themselves. Remember books need no internet, time, wi-fi, religion, or topic. You must read any novel to rejuvenate yourself.
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