Music therapy harnesses the transformative power of music to reduce anxiety and enhance mental health. By immersing oneself in melody, rhythm and harmony, a person can experience significant emotional and psychological benefits. This form of therapy is known to reduce stress, improve mood and foster a sense of well-being. Whether through listening, playing an instrument or composing music, music therapy is a unique and effective means of managing mental health issues, providing a healing and enriching experience for the mind and soul.
“Listening to music is one of the most basic and accessible ways to heal any mental distress. The healing power of music is multifaceted and versatile, encompassing physical, emotional, cognitive and social aspects of health and well-being. The therapeutic effects of music on mental health are widely recognised, making it a valuable tool for self-care and mental well-being. Music-based interventions have been shown to reduce symptoms of depression and lower anxiety and stress levels. On tough days, listening to nature sounds like a babbling stream or birds chirping can lower stress and anxiety levels and ease the nerves. People with learning disabilities often find music an easy way to communicate and express their emotions and feelings,” said Prakriti Poddar, Global Head, Mental Health and Wellbeing, RoundGlass Living.
“Healing music is a key pillar of wellbeing at Round Glass Living. We have created a range of curated playlists that will help you sleep better, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve focus,” says Prakriti, who is also a trained sound healer.
The key to music’s healing power lies in the frequency of sound. “Quantum physics has proven that everything has vibrations, and sound is nothing but vibrations of a particular frequency. The practice of Sound Healing harnesses this power of sound and vibration and combines it with intention (the most important aspect of healing) to raise the vibrational frequency of the body, resulting in healing, restoration and rejuvenation of the mind and body,” explains Prakriti.
Certain frequencies, through a process called brainwave entrainment, cause the brain to produce specific brainwaves that produce different states of mind and being. For example, some frequencies stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system (responsible for the body’s rest-and-digest state), encouraging the body’s organs and tissues to rest, heal, and regenerate. Other frequencies increase our attention and focus, improving our work performance.
Speaking further about the healing effects of music, Prakrit says, “As a sound healer, I can vouch for the beneficial effects of Tibetan singing bowl meditation in reducing tension, anger, fatigue and depressed moods in individuals. Tibetan singing bowls emit sounds in the frequency range of 200-400 Hertz, which when applied to emotional or physical disorders bring about deep relaxation and healing.”
The efficacy of music to improve sleep is well established: “At Roundglass Living, we have created several sleep playlists, including classical music and storytelling sets. Music therapy has also been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms and improving overall functioning in people suffering from PTSD,” Prakriti adds.
Music can also evoke greater empathy in us: “Music stimulates the autonomic nervous system, which controls our heart rate and emotions, helping us feel more emotions,” Prakriti emphasizes.
