Music as a wellness practice

Music… So many thoughts come to mind when I hear the word. As a musician, my immediate thoughts go to “perfection”. As a creative arts therapist, my immediate thoughts are “space,” “being,” experiencing," “breath,” “pulse,” and the list goes on. But, what does this have to do with wellness?

First, it may behoove us to begin with a simple definition of music: sound that is organized over time and space, and experienced in real time. The key word here is “experience.” If we were to look at a piece of artwork, we can pretty decently get a sense of what that piece is about. We can also use our imagination to fill in the gaps, so to speak, creating a fuller picture for ourselves as to what that image is about.

But music on the other hand… music is something we have to truly experience in order to understand what it is about, what it is telling us, and how our hearts and minds respond. It is also worth acknowledging that when we engage with music, we are always doing 1 of 2 things: we are either actively creating music, or actively receiving music. I say “actively receiving” for several reasons, and mainly because of what happens in our brain as we listen to or create music. Our bodies actively produce “feel good” endorphins, hormones, and neurotransmitters such serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin as a response to music. These in turn elevate our mood, enhance our sense of connectedness to others, and create a sense of general calm, wholeness, and wellness. When we consider wellness from a holistic perspective, we see that the pillars of wellness include a sense of physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Music is multidimensional, enhancing each of these pillars and then some! And the best part? Music is present everywhere! Why not give it a try? I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Coaching tip: create a wellness playlist!

How to: we all have songs that we enjoy - songs that pump us up, mellow us out, help us to rest, and help us to pray. Consider how you might want to use music - to energize you, help you to rest, or help you to pray. Select 3 songs for your preferred category, and put them into a playlist for yourself. As you listen to your playlist, become aware of how you feel. Tweak your playlist as needed, and use it throughout the week as a form of self-care.

Enjoy!

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