[1] Have you burst into song today? You should. Experts say singing is fun, good for your health and can relieve inner tension. “Singing in the shower boosts self-confidence,” said Markus Henrik, a German author and musician, adding that science shows that sound reverberates in a shower and the flow of water relaxes you.
[2] Karl Hoermann, a German music psychologist and pianist, agreed with Henrik about the power of singing in the shower. “It’s liberating. It doesn’t matter whether you hit the notes or not. Warbling a melody makes you breathe more deeply, which brings more oxygen into your body,” he said.
[3] A Swedish study found that singing in a choir benefits your cardiovascular system. Your heartbeat starts to adjust to a song’s rhythm when you sing in a group, which stabilises your cardiac rhythm. Playing an instrument or listening to music has a positive effect on health, too. To reduce stress, Hoermann said you should “play an instrument for at least 15 minutes or listen to music to get into a flow”.
[4] Different kinds of music help in a range of ways. You feel motivated by positive music. Sad music makes you feel understood. You feel less alone if you hear a sensitive voice singing. Many people feel better after listening to music, which is an effect due to our hormones. If you listen to ballads, for example, the “cuddle hormone” oxytocin is released.
[5] Music can do much more. Many people exercise while listening to songs to help them feel motivated, which can then affect their performance, according to Hoermann. Music can have a positive impact on your performance, especially in sports with a cyclical rhythm like jogging or cycling. German sports scientist Ingo Froboese explained that music could distract you from your tiredness, put you in a good mood and help you focus on the environment. Thus, it can help you see training as less strenuous, which can improve performance. However, do not overdo it, or you run the risk of having the effect of music wear off during training. Try having one session without music after every two sessions with it.
[6] Music is often used in therapy, particularly to treat depression. Studies show that certain music and sounds can reduce the need for pain medication. Try using music to improve your motivation, too. “If you have a certain goal in mind, make a suitable playlist of songs or pieces of music. If you then have the impression that you need to remind yourself of your goal or need a motivational boost, listen to your playlist,” Henrik said.
[7] Rhythm can help you even if you are not directly listening to music, Hoermann added. “A rhythm in triple time can often be easily integrated into everyday life,” he said. Use it when you go out shopping by mentally counting “one, two, three” to yourself.
Source: dpa, August 22
