Using Music to Relax

Music is a part of our lives. Whether your preference is jazz, gospel, pop, rock or Beethoven and Bach, music is a mood mover. We may very well have a built-in physical response to certain tones. High-pitched music is experienced as happy and playful. Low pitched music is experienced as sad and serious. The faster the beat the more the music heightens alertness and arousal. Slow music lowers the body's response to stress. Music influences:

• Breathing rate
• Blood pressure
• Stomach contractions
• Levels of stress hormones in the blood stream

Our hearts beat at an average of 70 to 80 times per minute. Research has shown that heart rate will synchronize with music and that music also alters the brain's electrical rhythms.

Set aside time each day to listen to music that calms you. It might be first thing in the morning, in your car as you commute to and from work, (especially if traffic is a source of anxiety or irritation for you), or after work before you turn on the TV. In addition to traditional types of music, you can find music in many natural sounds, such as rain falling, the sounds of a stream or the surf gently rolling. Most music stores have sections now that include combinations of music and environmental sounds. Use the time to unwind and get calm the natural way with the sound of music. Select a time and place when you will not be bothered by intrusions. Put on music that has made you feel calm in the past, and then listen and sway to the rhythm. Don’t do steps. That will break the spell. Just sway. And relax.

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