According to a recent scientific study, drumming
for just a few minutes changes brainwave patterns, dramatically
reducing stress. "Drumming to the beat of your heart,
is a fun, easy way to start [drumming]", says Robert
Lawrence Friedman, author of The Healing Power of the Drum.
Getting in touch with your system's rhythms will allow you
to enter a trancelike state that can relax your mind and body
as effectively as meditation. And, he says, the real beauty
of this technique is that you don't need to be a musician,
or own a drum. "Rhythm is rhythm. Anything that resonates
-- a pot, a table, will do." Here's Friedman's routine:
Pick a Song with a beat you love.
What you choose from your music collection should reflect
your desired mood. A slow song will help you relax; a quick
beat will uplife and energize you.
Feel the Rhythm's Power
Get familiar with the beat of the song you've chosen: "Groove
to it and tap your fingers, and feet to the rhythm,"
says Christine Stevens, director of music therapy and wellness
at Remo Health Rhythms.
Make It Your Own
Once you're comfortable with the rhythm, start drumming.
As you "play," empty your mind of all extraneous
thoughts and escape into the music. When the tune finishes
-- this is essential -- don't stop drumming! "Keep going
with the beat -- make it yours," says Stevens. For more
information on the power of drumming visit www.remo.com
and click on "healthrhythms."
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