Singing has always uplifted people’s spirits. But could it also be good for their physical health? Norbert Rego explores
ALL over the world, people are re-discovering the innate benefits of singing. From reducing stress levels, curing depression to strengthening community bonding — there’s nothing better than humming a song. Songs have carried, and still carry, culture: wisdom, knowledge, history and the joys, struggles and sorrows of the people. Singing promotes health: breathing, circulation and digestion. Research has identified several benefits of regular singing, including examples of people who claim that it helped them recover from strokes and heart attacks.
There’s nothing like singing for generating a feel good factor, which can have a tangible impact on your sense of well-being. Avinash Kumar 28, a BPO manager in Delhi, was on the verge of losing his job and went into severe depression. Apart from dieting and exercise, doctors advised him to listen to music for half-an-hour in the morning and another half-an-hour in the evening, basically to make him feel better. “I was asked to listen to the sitar and Indian ragas something from which I have benefited greatly. Today, my outlook towards life is positive,” says Kumar.
Dr Jitendra Nagpal, senior consultant, psychiatry, Moolchand Medcity, New Delhi opines, “The health benefits of singing are both physical and psychological. Singing has physical benefits. Being an aerobic activity, it increases oxygenation in the blood stream. It also exercises major muscle groups in the upper body. It bears psychological benefits too by reducing stress through the action of the endocrine system, which is linked to our sense of emotional well-being. Psychological benefits are also evident when people sing together by strengthening community bonding.”
Singing activates the relationship bond between loved ones too. “Sound waves have a positive effect on our nervous system and a therapeutic effect on negative emotions like anger, anxiety, psychosomatic problems and depression. Therefore, music therapy is advised in the case of these problems to achieve triple H — health, happiness and harmony in life,” adds Dr Nagpal.
Music is also rooted in diverse religions. Dr H K Chopra, a Delhi-based cardiologist affirms, “Human beings originated from sound. All the five sensations — touch, hear, smell, vision and taste have their primary component in the sound. We acquire optimum health when there’s a balance between the rhythm of the sound inside and outside us. Singing is the food for our soul.” Sound also benefits children. Children subjected to natural sounds always have better health as opposed to those subjected to harsh traffic sounds. The latter usually suffer from high blood pressure and hearing nerve deafness. “When pregnant women are subjected to music therapy, child growth is normal and intelligence is high. Reflexes of comatose patients too respond positively to music therapy in ICUs. By singing, you enliven your prana (life force), tejas (glow), and ojas (intelligence), thereby living up to your full potential,” concludes Dr Chopra.
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