Benefits of Singing
“In the beginning was the voice. Voice is sounding breath, the audible sign of life.” —Ibid.
The most ancient forms of healing involved sound, whether it was group chanting or even a mother singing a lullaby to soothe baby.
The combination of sound and healing has been around from the beginning of time.
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart… (Ephesians 5:18-19)
These sacred musical rituals have found a place in all religions across the world.
Humming or singing is one of the easiest ways to instantly get rid of anxiety.
Humming: Healing Us from the Inside Out
Your voice box is connected to your vagus nerve. When you hum or sing, you are using the muscles in the back of the throat to activate the vagus nerve. Scientists believe that this might be why techniques promoted in Yoga--for example “OM” meditations—can get work. Humming also requires you to control your inhalations and exhalations. The vagus nerve is also connected to respiration. By slowing down exhalation, you activate the parasympathetic nervous system, telling your body it can rest and feel calm.
Scientists have also identified a range of benefits that singing has on your mental and physical health.
Your breath, along with the abdominal muscles, the diaphragm, back muscles and the muscles between your ribcage all give the sound its power. They are key to supporting the airflow. The airflow crafted by your breath activates the vocal cords. Vocal cords are tiny muscle fibers located in your larynx. The larynx is also known as the voice box. The vocal cords are suspended in your throat by supporting muscles and are what creates a sound. To create sound the vocal cords utilize the air flowing upwards from your diaphragm towards the throat. Your voice will sound its best while maintaining proper posture.
Singing uses the right hemisphere which is responsible for rhythm and melody. This explains why someone with a speech impediment might be able to sing without the impediment and why so many people lose their accents while singing. It’s simply because they’re using a different part of the brain to sing.
SINGING AS ANTI-AGING:
Music is hard-wired into our brain and has benefits of improved cognition, especially during later stages of life. Learning to sing at any stage in life, but particularly late into adulthood can help you retain speech and communication skills. Singing has been found to improve concentration and memory.
Singing helps to deliver more blood oxygen to your brain, improving mental clarity, concentration, and alertness.
Singing is a natural stress and anxiety reliever. Oxytocin is one of the many hormones released when we sing. Oxytocin is responsible for feelings of bonding and reduces loneliness and depression. Maybe that is one of the many reasons we feel connected singing at church or a concert or chanting with others.
Singing is an aerobic activity. It brings more oxygen into the blood for proper circulation. Singing necessitates deep breathing, which is another way to relieve anxiety. Deep breathing is a key to meditation and other relaxation and mindful techniques, and you can't sing well without the deep breathing.
“Singing is a whole-body experience, creating opportunities for intentional, deep breaths and triggering the release of endorphins and dopamine, giving you opportunities for increased awareness in your body and mind.”
Singing, humming, chanting, or listening to music vibrates the entire body. This vibration in itself is healing.
Our ancestors knew this from ancient times.
Overall, singing can help significantly with our quality of life.
references:
https://www.londonsinginginstitute.co.uk/what-happens-when-we-sing/
