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MUSIC & MOOD
Belting out your favorite holiday jingles
SYINOG FUORR HE A LTH!may have surprising wellness benefits.
Singing boosts your ...
MOOD
Singing with other people
strengthens social bonds
and increases levels of
feel-good hormones called
endorphins.
LUNG STRENGTH The world’s most
Music therapy strengthens relaxing song—
your lungs and helps you
“Weightless”
breathe better. by British band
Marconi Union—
HEART HEALTH can reduce anxiety
Music reduces anxiety and by 65 percent.
stress, and lowers heart rate
and systolic blood pressure. “Singing is a unique way to improve your health. And you
SPEECH don’t have to be a famous singer to reap the rewards. I like
Melody therapy may help to ride in my car with the windows rolled down and the
correct aphasia, a speaking and music turned up, singing along. I’m constantly surprised
swallowing disorder common in and delighted by the way music heals.”
people recovering from strokes and
traumatic brain injuries. —Katie Whipple, LPMT, MT-BC, music therapist, lecturer and clinical coordinator of music
therapy clinics at Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital, Navicent Health
TRY IT: Follow these steps to strengthen your lungs and relax your vocal cords.
»» Breathe in through the nose.
THE STRAW »» Close your lips around a straw.
EXERCISE »» Slowly breathe out through the straw.
»» Remove the straw, breathe normally for a few breaths and repeat the exercise five times.
EXTRA CREDIT: Sing a verse of your favorite holiday song through the straw on your exhale.
6 navicenthealth.org | WINTER 2017
