Music

How does music affect my mind and body? One person says:

I enjoy relaxing bubble baths with music in the background and a nice fragrant candle burning.

Most of us enjoy music and reach for a favorite tape or CD for fun, to relax, or to just keep us going! As we've begun to explore the links between our minds and our bodies, we've found scientifically what we've known intuitively all along—rhythm affects our brain patterns and can help us focus or relax.

What kind of music do you enjoy for relaxation? Do you have a favorite relaxation tape? Classical or New Age instrumental music? The rhythm of a drum beat? Do you like the sound of the ocean or other nature sounds? Chanting? Or do you prefer guided relaxation tapes or videos with music? The music that "heals" or feels good to you is a matter of choice, but a few pioneering musicians have studied the science of music and how it affects our bodies.

Many bookstores and music stores have displays where you can listen to music before you buy it. Libraries in your area may also lend out CDs so you can learn what you like and what makes you feel calm.

Music and well-being

If you like classical music, you might want to try some Mozart. The ability of Mozart's music to affect our minds is called the Mozart Effect and has been used in many studies of learning since the 1950s. Mozart's music is used today to help people with dyslexia, speech disorders, and autism.

Some composers have explored the link between music and our body's invisible energy fields, or chakras. They believe sounds can be used to align the body's energy and balance the chakras, to create more balance in our physical, emotional, and spiritual lives.