Why Music Is Such Good Therapy

Music, they say, soothes the savage beast and this isStephen Halpern Ph.D., "Music is not all that meets the
so true when we consider how music in its magicalear. If you were to have earplugs in your ears, you
way works on our body rhythms bring harmony,cold still 'feel the music'" he explains. "That's because
literally, back into the body.music is vibrations. And these vibrations affect your
A story is told in the Bible of a King named Saul, whoheartbeat, blood flow, brain waves - your entire body
had an evil spirit that would torment him and makechemistry.
him feel terrible. It was suggested that they findSo it is by our body responses that we can tell if
someone who could play he harp and then the evilmusic is truly relaxing us or not.
spirit would leave and King Saul would feel better. SoIn order to truly enjoy the music it is best if you can
they searched and found a young shepherd boyget yourself focused on it by either sitting still or lying
named David and he was commissioned to play fordown and really soak it in.
Saul whenever the evil spirit came upon him.I realize that there are times when you just can't do
Whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, Davidthis and just listening while going about your work is
would take his harp and play. Then relief would comebetter than nothing, but it will not have the same
to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit wouldeffect as actually absorbing yourself in it.
leave him. 1 Samuel 16:23(KJV)I personally love to just run a hot bath with my
Researchers have found that certain types of musicfavorite aroma, lavender. Then I light candles around
are more uplifting to the soul than others. Althoughthe bathroom and turn off all of the lights. This is my
you may think that a way to relax would be to listenspecial time when I can relax and toss away the
to your favorite rock band, you are sadly mistaken.cares of the day. In the living room, right next to the
This will only rev up your engines and make youbathroom, I have beautiful classical or new age music
more stressed than when you started out. No, theplaying softly. As it permeates the room, mixed with
way to personal harmony must come from a verythe scent of my bath and candles, I am in another
specific kind of music. Not all music relaxes, you mustworld, totally relaxed without a care in the world.
personally feel more relaxed, your breathing mustMusic, in my view, is the most influential and powerful
become slower and deeper for music to have atherapy that you can provide yourself. It not only
relaxing effect on you.affects your soul, but your body and spirit as well.
According to composer and music researcher