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