Music R-O-C-K-S!!

Can music keep me young forever? Ummmm….as much as I would love to say oh yes for sure and you will never sag, never turn gray and never ever get a wrinkle. It’s just THAT good.

But I can’t. It does not.

What I can tell you though is that music CAN do some pretty amazing things and really ROCKS! How do you think the term “Rock and Roll” was coined. Co-ink-y-dink? I think not. (Just not sure what the roll part is). I can tell you first hand that listening to music has turned me into so many people.

• There were those days back in high school, when “the girls” and I would drive around listening to music  just looking for people to see what they were up to. Mostly boys. So here, the technical name for this I think is “Stalker”.

• Then when I was in college doing some crazy dance stunts to Deadeye Dick “New Age Girl” (otherwise known as Mary Moon or Mary Moe) while belting out the lyrics like a champ. “Total Rock Star”.

• Oh and when I would ride on long bus trips with my college swim team and my walkman (I know, I know, I just totally dated myself. It wasn’t THAT long ago) glued to my ears visualizing my big race. I instantly became “Olympic Swimmer” or maybe just “dreamer”.

• And so, as the years continued on and I turned 21…I met my dear hubs at a local tavern. It was no ordinary tavern my friends, no. This place actually had writing all over the walls and bras dangling from the ceiling. Classy. I can sortof remember doing some kind of dancing movement together which I think would make me something like “Demi Moore” in Strip Tease but less strip and more tease.

• Then, our wedding day. Ahhhh. What can I say, aren’t we all “Queen” on our wedding day. Gliding across the floor with our Prince Charming to Shania Twain?

• And then the babies. Indeed music can be your best friend with a newborn. There is nothing like a lullaby to rock baby to sleep. At this moment, I was everything I ever wanted to be…”mommy”.

Music has such a way of transforming the soul…from easing depression and stress, to relaxing and romance.

Where words fail, music speaks

Author: Hans Christian Anderson

So if music has the power and ability to change us so dynamically at any given moment, then surely it has the ability to promote health and well being in us too.

According to the American Music Therapy Association http://www.musictherapy.org/

“Music Therapy is an established healthcare profession that uses music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals of all ages.  Music therapy improves the quality of life for persons who are well and meets the needs of children and adults with disabilities or illnesses.  Music therapy interventions can be designed to:

promote wellness

manage stress

alleviate pain

express feelings

enhance memory

improve communication

promote physical rehabilitation”.

So for those of us who just really want to enjoy the benefits of music on our own time, go for it! Music can make stress more manageable, help fight depression, ease anxiety and give you a little uplifting boost when needed. A positive tune is similar in theory to “positive self talk” and can help with coping.

5 Tips for those seeking Dr. Music as their psychotherapist…because…Music Rocks!

1. R-Romance: Surprise your lover with a romantic evening at home, including candles, dinner, soft music to enhance the mood and so on and so forth and so on and so forth and so on and….you get the idea. I hope you know what to do next. (If not, don’t worry about reading number 2).

2. O- Obstetrics: Music therapy assisted labor and delivery are a part of natural childbirth that many women have found helpful in comforting mom during the labor process and the immediate postpartum period. (I find this fascinating so look for more in future posts).

3. C-Calming: After a long hard day of kids screaming, whining or just the stress of everyday chaos…light a candle, take a hot bath with some essential oils and turn on a peaceful number to aid in relaxation.

4. K-Kick-Butt Body: Find a way to get the body you have always desired! Take some time to download some of your favorite, fast-moving songs that make you want to shake it! Take a walk, a jog, dance with your kids in your living room….what ever motivates you to move! Shoot, you could even vacuum the floors to the Black Eyed Peas! ( This is one of my favorites lately, aside of all Jimmy Buffet).

5. S-Stress: Music has lasting benefits for your state of mind. It can increase optimism, make you smile when you want to cry, slow your breathing during stressful situations, ultimately helping your body cope with anxiety with the aim of reducing the amount of damage caused by chronic stress.

Here are two of my fav’s! Jimmy Buffett’s “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On” which I have tried to make this my motto whenever life feels stressful.

Now this one’s (from Oprah’s 24th season party) got some serious punch to it and really makes me want to stand on a table and dance! My husband would love to see that!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnJ49hv5Rho

So turn on some tunes, get moving, get happy and smile. I know I am!

Just think, you may even be able to keep up with the kids!