The music for life

As the ear changes and the body mature, different styles of music bring attentiveness, relaxation and creative abilities into play. The nutrition of music can be used, not only as art and entertainment, but also as a vital source of health and mental focus throughout our lives. Explore modalities being used from kindergarten through hospice and listen to some samples from the pre-natal hit parade! Music has the ability to transform the brain, body and emotions.

Music is essential of life - similar to air, water, food, and the process of inter-relating. When living a conscious life, essentials require discernment and awareness of consequence. Humans hear sound from 18 weeks in utero until after the heartbeat stops. Sound, like other essentials, is so ubiquitous that we usually take it for granted. Many of us binge on music - using sound as sonic caffeine, as a habitual companion. Sound and the voice have been understood and used in different traditions not only as a description of mythical and cosmogonic resonance but as one of the most effective ways to balance the mind and body and ultimately achieve enlightenment. We can empower our lives by using our voice to release a uniquely powerful energy, which can be used for physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual healing. By freeing the voice in certain ways, it is possible to find physical health and emotional joy and spiritual ecstasy.

Music is the first language of the earth - the sound of the wind in the trees, the melody of birdsongs, running water tripping over rocks. Music touches an ancient and eternal place within us, beyond the logic of the mind. Scientific studies now confirm that playing music helps premature babies gain weight faster, surgery patients heal faster, and migraine sufferers experience far fewer migraines, among other results. Music has a positive effect on a wide variety of symptoms, as it lifts the human spirit in subtle and profound ways. Music enables us to express all kinds of feelings and fears, passions and pain. It helps reduce stress, elevate moods, helps us move through grief, fear and pain and express joy, peace and love.

Music can literally change the way we feel – emotionally, physiologically, mentally and spiritually. Music enables us to express all kinds of feelings and fears, passions and pain. It helps reduce stress, elevate moods, moves us through grief, fear and pain, and gives us a way to express joy, peace and Music is an escape in a form of meditation or relaxation, and when you combine it with dance you create a formula for getting lost in the music and escaping the stress of everyday life. On a spiritual level, you get emotional release from music when you come across a song you relate to. Whether it’s memories or your concept of what God is, you sometimes get so lost in it you feel like you’re having a spiritual experience. In a much more sterile environment, hospitals are also tapping into the healing powers of music.

Dozens of studies have documented results linking the use of music to the lowering of blood pressure, the lessening of anxiety, and a reduction in requested medication. It can also change a patient’s experience inside the hospital environment. For example, research has found that post-operative patients hear the same whether they are asleep or awake. Since the human ear is a “nonstop listener” delivering information from sounds to the brain 24 hours a day, instead of the cold mechanical beeps and buzzes of hospital machines, why not bring sound that is meaningful to the patient? The goal of these programs is for patients to experience their environment as a place that can empower the transition from disease to recovery.

Recognizing the healing powers of music does not mean rushing out to the nearest store to buy the latest meditation and trance CD, or visiting a hospital’s intensive care unit. The real recognition comes from being aware that music can aid in any healing process. How or what you choose to listen to is up to you.

:: By Zahid A Khan

Model Tisha
Photographer Ashis sen gupta