| Why does music affect our emotions? In our | | | | |
| stressful lifestyle, how can we use sounds | | | | I am not a healer and I make no claims of the |
| and music to calm and relax? Composer Martin | | | | medicinal power of music. To me, music is a |
| Mayer looks at the relationship between music | | | | powerful tool which can shape emotion and |
| and relaxation. | | | | influence moods in ourselves and others |
| Music is the key to a thousand emotions. We | | | | around us. It is a powerful positive force |
| associate music with the places we have been, | | | | that you can harness to aid relaxation and |
| the times we have experienced and the people | | | | provide a release from stress. Relaxation |
| in our lives. Music is all around us. There | | | | techniques often rely on music as a spark. |
| is no denying the effectiveness of music, so | | | | Which technique you use depends on your |
| why not use it to affect our own emotions and | | | | lifestyle and the time you have to yourself. |
| enhance our personal environment? Relaxing | | | | |
| music, relaxation music, meditation music... | | | | A good habit can be built; find a quiet room, |
| call it what you will. There is no question | | | | put work worries to one side and allow |
| that it can help us to shape our environment | | | | yourself time to unwind - dim the lights, |
| effectively and can be changed to suit or | | | | light some candles or incense or whatever you |
| influence our mood. | | | | find calming. Close your eyes and focus on |
| | | | the sound of your breath. Take in the same |
| In today's society, wherever there is radio, | | | | amount of air but breathe slightly longer |
| television, cinema or the internet, we will | | | | breaths, less often. Relaxing music is a |
| be exposed to music. Music is all around us | | | | great focus for an exercise like this or any |
| and is a commodity so important that is used | | | | relaxation technique. Listen to relaxation |
| by virtually every company on the planet to | | | | music at a volume level that is high enough |
| sell us their products and services. Very | | | | to mask any background noise but not so high |
| often we are completely oblivious to the | | | | as to be overbearing. In a busy workplace or |
| sounds drifting out of those in-store | | | | home, headphones are useful. |
| speakers or the impact and drama of an | | | | |
| action-movie soundtrack placed in a car | | | | The music should not be too distracting and |
| advert. Music is a complex language that can | | | | should be carefully composed to be easy to |
| convey any emotion or conjure a response from | | | | listen to. I recommend that you use music |
| any audience. At the same time music is | | | | that is slow and preferably without a heavy |
| simple and universally understandable. | | | | beat. However, it should be interesting and |
| | | | different enough to capture the imagination |
| We are used to others using music to | | | | and become a suitable focus for relief. |
| influence our emotions and therefore | | | | Nature sounds enhance the experience as they |
| decisions. However, we rarely use music's | | | | help you to imagine a place of peace, calm, |
| benefits to help ourselves. Relaxing music or | | | | tranquillity and serenity. It is best to use |
| relaxation music (also known as new age | | | | music written specifically for relaxation, |
| music) can be used to relieve stress, unwind | | | | although you could use any music that you |
| after a hard day at work, promote good sleep | | | | find particularly relaxing. This technique is |
| or as a focus of concentration during yoga or | | | | most useful if it can be practiced for a |
| meditation. As a composer, the idea of music | | | | significant amount of time - more than half |
| for relaxation has fascinated me. For a long | | | | an hour. However, it can be effective if used |
| time, I have researched the benefits of music | | | | for just a few minutes at break times. |
| for health and wellbeing. Music is just a | | | | |
| part of relaxation, but can be the key to | | | | Having said all this, no two people are the |
| calm and relax mind and body. | | | | same. Relaxation and the way we achieve it is |
| | | | different for every one of us. Whatever music |
| Positive healing effects of music have been | | | | you choose should enable you to escape from |
| suggested since ancient times. In the beliefs | | | | the stress of everyday life. It should help |
| of Ancient Greece, Apollo was God of medicine | | | | you to put your worries aside and recharge; |
| and music. It was believed that music had the | | | | physically and emotionally. Whether this is |
| power to penetrate the soul. According to | | | | relaxing, new age music, folk, pop or rock is |
| Plato, Pythagoras practiced a system of sound | | | | up to you. The simple act of making time to |
| and music used to cure disease and encourage | | | | absorb the music is most important. The music |
| spiritual health. The Egyptians also believed | | | | also helps to build a barrier between you and |
| in the link between medicine and music. The | | | | the distractions around you. The music |
| relationship between sound and healing was | | | | becomes a shield and backdrop for your |
| held sacred. | | | | relaxation. |