Today, more and more seniors are watching their diet andimplementing exercise programs in an effort to remain morehealthful, manage stress, and participate in a lifestyle that isrewarding and enjoyable. Many are aware of the benefits of dietand exercise in helping to keep our bodies and minds operating apeak levels of performance, but what is not known is the rolemusic can play in helping older citizens (and I believe youngerones, too) to manage stress, become a part of an enjoyablelearning experience, and acquire a new tool in their efforts tostay healthy.

What many people don't realize is the role music could play intheir life, throughout the course of their life. Music is ourconnection between the everyday spoken word, and the power ofour spirituality. Music operates on sound waves that fall in therange between vocal sounds, or our voice, and spiritual prayer,or meditative brain wave lengths. What does all that say? It isa link, an avenue to connect with our higher conscious on amoment to moment basis, to relive stress, comfort us, or simplylift our spirit.

Professors and other leaders of the education environment havelong known the benefits of musical talent. Learning to makemusic and play musical instruments increases our mathematicaland scientific analysis abilities. In the course of the learningprocess, the musical notations and reading of musical notes,works within the vastness of our brain to stimulate theprocesses associated with working mathematical problems, solvinganalytical problems, and excelling in the sciences.

What have we learned from watching our young people, as theylearn to perform and play musical

instruments? There is a directassociation with the hopeful mindset of youth, and the pouringout of musical creation. Both the young mind and the musicalnote bring about joy and hope, in an untainted, unlearnedenvironment. The young mind is oblivious to the constraints oflife that the middle-aged person has learned well, and themusical note serves as a constant invitation to belief in theimpossible.

What have studies revealed about the power of music? Instudies performed on older citizens, the effect of learning toplay music, and participate in music performances, loweredstress and anxiety levels, feelings of isolation and lonelinessdecreased, and here's the real surprise, participants actuallyshowed increases in the production of the human growth hormone.The human growth hormone positively affects aging phenomena suchas energy levels, wrinkling, osteoporosis, sexual function,muscle mass and general aches and pains.



What important information does this impart to healthpractitioners? It brings to the forefront the need for increasedexposure to group activity and social interaction. The benefitof learning musical instruments and enjoyment of the music theygenerate only sees its true potential when applied in a groupsetting, where laughter, music and fellowship can take place.Studies of this nature serve to reinforce the long-held beliefthat music is a way to connect with our higher selves, ourpeers, and to bring about increased enjoyment of our lives.

About the author:

Tony Robinson is a CEO and Webmaster. He has a young family anda keen interest in health and fitness. Visit his site athttp://www.be-well-and-fit.com