Do you have a song that immediately brings a smile to your face? A song that you crank and puts you in a happy mood?
I LOVE music. I grew up with radio and music in my blood basically. I grew up going to concerts, going back stage, sitting in dressing rooms of some bands, etc.
My kids now get to meet their favorite singers/band etc. It is absolutely amazing. But I never realized how music can play such a huge part in our moods.
I blast songs when I am down and in a funk. I love putting together my playlists for my yoga and fitness classes.
How music can help you heal
It’s almost impossible to find someone who doesn’t feel a strong connection to music. According to Harvard Medical Journal, surgeons have long played their favorite music to relieve stress in the operating room, and extending music to patients has been linked to improved surgical outcomes. In the past few decades, music therapy has played an increasing role in all facets of healing.
Hearing a song from our adolescence brings back a flood of feelings and memories. I remember watching the Thriller music video when I was super little and I remember certain radio stations from my childhood because my dad listened to them. But why do those songs have such a strong hold on our emotions? Harvard Medical School also says, our brains develop rapidly between ages 12 and 22 so when we make a connection to a song during that time, it’s a strong neurological connection. That’s why when we hear a true throwback to our high school days, it’s a powerful thing.
Yoga instructors, life coaches, self-help gurus, and psychologists have long known the importance of positive thinking. But now there is research backing positive listening. Listening to positive-sounding music can most definitely boost your mood.
A separate study found that people who intentionally listened to upbeat music improved their moods and happiness in just two weeks. When a separate group was instructed to listen to different music that wasn’t deemed positive sounding, they didn’t experience the same mood-boosting effect. So the next time you’re blue, maybe put on a song that will make you smile.
So back to that was a Crazy Game Of Poker. I was in college. A local band playing at a neighboring college in Ohio played this song and I loved it. The name of the band is OAR and every time I hear it, it brings a smile to my face!
Nikki Lanigan
Nikki Lanigan is a yoga, HIIT, and Barre instructor, she is also a Holistic Health Coach through Institute of Integrative Nutrition. Nikki is trained in Yoga Shred, Yoga Psychology, meditation, chakra balancing, and EFT/Tapping. She has done trainings with Sadie Nardini and Ashley Turner. She got her 200 hour yoga teacher training in 2017 at the Carrie Treister School Of Yoga. Nikki takes a holistic view of health, helping her students and clients reach a place of self-love not just through movement, but with mindset and lifestyle guidance as well. Nikki is also show prep writer for The McVay Media Show Prep and host of the podcast Fit, Fun, and Frazzled. Connect with Nikki on Instagram. www.instagram.com/nikkilanigan.yogaandwellness www.instagram.com/fitfunandfrazzledpodcast
