article-blog

Music for the soul and for the health – The art of healing with music

From time immemorial, people have felt the therapeutic effect of music. Music soothes the soul and you can find a reflection of any emotion in music, be it anger, woe, happiness, or peace. Melodies can lift your spirits, trigger a pang of sadness or calm your senses. Studies have shown that it is the vibration of sounds, alone, and in combination that provide these effects.

Indians have long understood that music is good for health. We regularly do early morning chanting in temples, and listen to devotional songs and instrumental music. Though we have not been aware of the hows and whys of it, we have been practicing the art of healing the body with music. Study of the curative properties of music is called music therapy.

How does music therapy work?

Music therapy uses music interventions as therapy for various physical and mental issues. For example, it has been found that listening to the Thodi Raga for 30 minutes every day for 20 days produces decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Music therapy is now being used extensively in promoting overall wellness. These musical interventions can help in promoting wellness, managing stress, alleviating pain, enhancing memory and concentration, raising self awareness and introspection and improving communication and sociability. Music is also used extensively in speech and hearing therapy as well as being used as a tool in physical and mental rehabilitation programs.

Ragas and their health benefits

People who listen to Indian music and have an ear for tone and timbre know that our ragas encompass the breadth of musical notes. Did you know that each of our ragas was found to be helpful with different kinds of health problems? Let’s take a look at our ragas and what they alleviate:-

How do the healing powers of ragas work?

The raga is formed by notes, whose frequencies form a tune. The jiva swaras and nyasa swaras instill life to the raga scale. They are therefore the perfect tool for emotional and physical healing. Healing with ragas is called Raga chikitsai.

Margazhi music festival

In December, people from all over the world descend on our lovely city for the most awaited cultural program of the year. Here is a schedule of the Margazhi Mahotsav for 2018. http://www.indian-heritage.org/musicseason/sch.html This Margazhi, enjoy the lilting melodies of your favourite musicians and get renewed and rejuvenated for the New Year to come.

admin

Share
Published by
admin

Recent Posts

What is Assisted Living

Assisted living is a residential option for older adults who require assistance with daily activities…

6 years ago

December 2019 Newsletter

There are many reasons why a caregiver may become necessary as your parents age. You…

6 years ago

How to make your home senior friendly

One of the biggest fears that people have as they get older is that they…

6 years ago

Malnutrition in seniors is cause for concern

Good nutrition is important at any age, but it becomes a more serious cause for…

6 years ago

Handling chronic pain as you age

As age catches up, so do aches and pains. Seniors are often managing and living…

6 years ago

November 2019 Newsletter

Home Health Care Can Better Quality Of Life Aging is natural but it isn’t the…

6 years ago