[YogaWithNancy] Why Liistening to Music is the Key to Good Health

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Misty L. Trepke

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Why listening to music is the key to good health

by NAOMI COLEMAN

femail.co.uk

 

http://www.femail.co.uk/pages/standard/article.html?

in_article_id=137116 & in_page_id=179

 

It's the weekend and at some point you'll probably relax to your

favourite music, watch a film with a catchy title track - or hit the

dance floor.

 

There's no doubt that listening to your favourite music can instantly

put you in a good mood. But scientists are now discovering that music

can do more for you than just lift your spirits.

 

Research is showing it has a variety of health benefits.

 

Fresh research from Austria has found that listening to music can

help patients with chronic back pain.

 

And a recent survey by Mind - the mental health charity - found that

after counselling, patients found group therapy such as art and music

therapy, the most useful.

 

Here, we present six proven ways that music can help you and your

family's health

 

1. CHRONIC BACK PAIN

 

How it helps: Music works on the autonomic nervous system - the part

of the nervous system responsible for controlling our blood pressure,

heartbeat and brain function - and also the limbic system - the part

of the brain that controls feelings and emotions. According to one

piece of research, both these systems react sensitively to music.

 

When slow rhythms are played, our blood pressure and heartbeat slow

down which helps us breathe more slowly, thus reducing muscle tension

in our neck, shoulders, stomach and back. And experts say that apart

from physical tension, music also reduces psychological tension in

our mind.

 

In other words when we feel pain, we become frightened, frustrated

and angry which makes us tense up hundreds of muscles in our back.

 

Listening to music on a regular basis helps our bodies relax

physically and mentally, thus helping to relieve - and prevent - back

pain.

 

The research: A new study from Austria's General Hospital of Salzburg

due to be published in The Vienna Medical Weekly Journal could hold

the key to back pain. In the study, 65 patients aged between 21 and

68 with chronic back pain after back surgery were divided into two

groups.

 

One group received standard medical care and physiotherapy. The other

group also listened to music and received visualisation classes for

25 minutes every day for three weeks. Results found that the group

who listened to music and used imagery experienced better pain relief

than the group who did not.

 

Clinical psychologist Franz Wendtner who led the study says: 'Music

is an important part of our physical and emotional wellbeing - ever

since we were babies in our mother's womb listening to her heartbeat

and breathing rhythms.

 

'Listening to music for about 25 minutes everyday for at least ten

days can help prevent back pain and also make you sleep better.'

Which type of music is best? Experts believe any type of classical

music such as Mozart or Beethoven can help relieve muscle pain.

 

Calm, slow music is also thought to help.

 

2. IMPROVES YOUR WORKOUT

 

How it helps: Experts say listening to music during exercise can give

you a better workout in several ways. Scientists claim it can

increase your endurance, boost your mood and can distract you from

any discomfort experienced during your workout.

 

The research: Dr Robert Herdegen of America's Hampden-Sydney College

in Virginia, looked at the effects of 12 men riding a bicycle for ten

minutes while listening to music on one day. He compared it to the

same men riding bicycles without music for ten minutes the following

day.

 

On the days that the men exercised listening to music, they travelled

11 per cent further - compared to the days they didn't listen to

music.

 

Researchers also found that the men's levels of exertion were at

their lowest when listening to music.

 

Other studies show that listening to music releases endorphins - our

natural 'feel good' hormones that lift our mood and give us

motivation to carry on longer with exercise.

 

Which type of music is best? The best type of music for exercise is

thought to be high energy, high tempo music such as hip hop or dance

music.

 

3. MEMORY LOSS

 

How it helps: For many people suffering from memory loss the spoken

language has become meaningless. Music can help patients remember

tunes or songs and get in touch with their history. This is because

the part of the brain which processes music is located next to

memory.

 

The research: Researchers from Norway's Sogn Og Fjordane College

compared the effects of live, taped and no music on three different

groups of people suffering from post traumatic amnesia - or memory

loss.

 

The patients were exposed to all three conditions, twice over six

consecutive days. Results showed that when patients listened to live

or taped music, two thirds of them showed significantly reduced

symptoms of anxiety and enhanced orientation, compared to the group

that didn't listen to music.

 

Which type of music is best? Research shows that people with memory

loss respond best to music of their choice.

 

4. DEPRESSION

 

How it helps: Music has been shown to slow down the heartbeat. This

helps people to relax and stimulate the part of the brain which is

connected to emotional activity and sleep. Being soothed in this way

encourages our mind to concentrate on relaxing muscles and helps us

to breathe more deeply and evenly.

 

The research: Research from the Science University of Tokyo shows

that music is helpful at reducing levels of anxiety and stress.

Which type of music is best? Research shows classical music is best

at helping to cope with depression.

 

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