The Art of Creativity | Taika Waititi | TEDxDoha

Hey! Last week was all about music and how it helps us sleep. I hope you found some of it useful!

This week we are taking a step back and looking at the creative arts, and how they benefit us every single day.

I really hope you enjoy this next post, a TED TALK all about The Art of Creativity :-)

Meditation Music - Be Calm Within

Fun fact! Sleep deprivation will kill you more quickly than food deprivation...sorry, not so fun after all...lets just agree to both eat and sleep, and we will be fine!

Meditation is not easily definable: depending upon the context, there can be many different types of meditation and thus many different definitions. Let us compare two definitions from authorities we can rely upon. The first definition is from that great tome, 'The Encyclopedia Britannica'. It defines meditation as 'private devotion or mental exercise consisting in any of innumerable techniques of concentration, contemplation, and abstraction, regarded as conducive to heightened spiritual awareness or somatic calm.'

The other definition is taken from the Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia which says that meditation is a 'religious discipline in which the mind is focused on a single point of reference. It may be a means of invoking divine grace, as in the contemplation by Christian mystics of a spiritual theme, question, or problem; or it may be a means of attaining conscious union with the divine, e.g., through visualization of a deity or inward repetition of a prayer or mantra (sacred sound).' The common point between these two and all other definitions is the same; meditation is the act of consciously directing your attention to alter your state of consciousness.

Even though it is an ancient technique of relaxation, meditation is continually becoming more and more popular among people all over the world. When we speak of meditation the most common image that our mind conjures up is that of a Hindu saint sitting cross legged and chanting mantras. The description is quite accurate but from having seriously religious connotations at one time, meditation became the in thing by the efforts of one Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, an Indian who espoused the concept of 'Transcendental Meditation', which took the technique out of its religious settings and made it more popular among people of all faith. Today, 50 years since the birth of Transcendental Meditation, it still remains popular among western societies.

Music has always played a major role in the relaxation of the human mind and body. It also is a great accompaniment to meditation and yoga. The correct type of soothing music will make sure that you have a complete meditation experience and will also guide you through the steps of meditation. Inner Splendor Media, a New York based company specialises in providing meditation music, sleep music and more.

Original Source

Wind Down Yoga - 12 Minute Bedtime Yoga - Yoga With Adriene

...and we are back with Adriene!

Yoga really is a wonderful way to calm the mind and unlock the body. Even if you have never tried it, even if you think you will absolutely hate it, why not just try it for five minutes...you might be surprised.

Before you take the jump and try something new, here's a fact for you...

Giraffes sleep for only 1.9 hours a day, whereas a brown bat sleeps for 19.9 hours a day!

Experiment, enjoy some me time.

Your Brain on Music

We have spoken about music affecting a child's brain, but what about our own brains today?

Does Music Change a Child's Brain?

I love this Ted Talk about music affecting children's brains.

Music is a very powerful thing.

Happiness Frequency: Serotonin Release Boosts Happiness, Well-Being

The Power of Music: 7 Benefits of Listening to Songs and Instrumentals

Stress triggers are everywhere. px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.15s ease-out 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Most Americans struggle to find a quiet place to ease their nerves during the hustle and bustle of each day.

The power of music is that it can drown out the unwanted anxiety. Many music therapy techniques can be applied to your daily routine to help you find balance.

Here are 7 benefits of listening to songs and instrumentals throughout your day.

Can Help Alzheimer’s Patients

Age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s are improved when patients try music therapy. Music works wonders in calming the mind and triggering old memories.

Reports of patients suddenly recalling lost information are common after music therapy. Caregivers of music therapy patients with Alzheimer’s are encouraged to create personalized playlists.

These playlists should include songs that are meaningful to the patient to help get an emotional response.

6. Reduces Depression in Elderly

Unfortunately, depression in the elderly is common. When suffering a disease, elderly people can fall into a depression that makes it harder for them to recover. 

Music is powerful because it brings with it memories of a life well lived. The elderly are more likely to recall all memories with fondness while experiencing depression because it takes their mind off disease. 

These memories brought about by songs and instrumentals help reduce depression in seniors. After a lifetime of music, they’re more likely to have a soundtrack to their past that makes them feel alive again. 

5. Reduces Schizophrenia Symptoms

Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that affects less than one percent of the population. It causes chronic symptoms like hallucinations, disordered thinking, and behavior that won’t allow normal daily functioning. 

Music therapy has been proven to reduce schizophrenia symptoms. Doctors use music as a way to communicate concepts and feelings with patients.

Studies show that patients show improved social interactions after sessions with music. The power of music is that it allows them to experience concepts they couldn’t grasp through words alone. 

4. Therapeutic During Childbirth

Contractions during childbirth can be eased with the help of songs and instrumentals. Pregnant women should aim to create playlists with songs that have a history of easing their stress.

The right music helps to quieten your mind and regulate your breathing. This creating a healthier delivery for both mothers and babies.

Soft, quieter music is the best option in the delivery room as long as its loud enough to drown out sounds from elsewhere in the building. Soundproof headphones are also an option when looking for ways to drown out the noise and focus only on breathing through contractions. 

3. Loosens Tense Muscles

When your favorite song plays, your guard goes down. This is because music helps to loosen tense muscles.

It’s one of the best forms of stress relief because it replaces whatever you’re thinking with the lyrics to a song. Choose music with a positive message to stimulate you when you’re feeling stressed.

Lyrics that put you in a sour mood can have a reverse effect at the end of a hard day. The same goes for songs that bring on bad memories.

Have your favorite playlist at the ready when you leave work each day to get you ready for a good night’s rest. Allow your playlist to slow in tempo as the playlist progresses to begin slowing down your breathing to match the rhythm of the song. 

2. Improves Motor Function

Patients with Parkinson’s Disease use music to improve motor skills. Studies show patients moving faster and happier with music therapy.

Neurologists associate this increased motivation to move with muscle memory. People with Parkinson’s have to try hard to move during physical therapy just to get from one side of the room to the next.

The music played during therapy sessions took their mind off the details of walking and instead allowed them to focus on fun. Their muscles already had the memory of the mechanics of walking so it wasn’t hard to fall back into a familiar rhythm.

This trend is similar to an aging person’s ability to heal better when they’re happy than when they’re depressed. Good feelings encourage the body to do better.

1. Encourages Dancing

The number one benefit of listening to music is that it encourages dancing. Dancing is one of the best forms of stress relief, building bonds with other people and staying active. 

You might not be able to run a 10-minute mile, but most people can move on the dance floor for hours if given the right songs. Music takes you beyond your normal physical limitations giving you a dopamine rush like no other.

Popular fitness trends now include things like Zumba and Buti Yoga that teach you fun dance routines.

Dancing to music brings together friends, families, and strangers. While you’re out at a bar enjoying happy hour specials, the music you hear in the background can inspire you to make a love connection with the person next to you or start a conga line. 

The Power of Music

Most people think of music just as entertainment. It’s an exciting way to destress with the people around you with whether you know them or not.

But the power of music is that it doesn’t claim to be one thing. It’s healing, it’s fun and it transcends language. 

Use music for as many purposes as you want. It can improve your life on more levels than most other treatments money can buy. 

How to translate the feeling into sound | Claudio | TEDxPerth

Why Music Is Good For Your Soul

Music is an art that is shared by almost everyone in the world. It is literally a universal language and the use of sound to communicate and express emotion is prevalent in almost every species. A world without music would be a very cold world, indeed.

We all know that music is good for us. What do you do to make a film more interesting? You add music. How do you get people to remember your product? You add music. How do you tell someone you love them? You put on some romantic music and stutter out the words.

Music is awesome.

But you might not be aware of just how awesome music can be. It is an incredible art form that crosses boundaries and brings people together. It can influence your mood and trigger your memory.

Music Helps You Share Ideas

One of the main reasons that music is so popular is that it is a way to share ideas. Like all art forms, music allows people to share their ideas without necessarily relying on words and language. Though the meaning may not always be completely clear, music is great for sparking conversation. And there are few topics as controversial as what constitutes good music!

Music is also extremely shareable. We all love listening to the same music as our friends and most music promotion relies on word of mouth recommendations. We want to get in on the musical zeitgeist of our time. When you look back on our childhood, you probably remember what you were singing along to or dancing around your bedroom to most.

But music is also fundamental to spreading political ideas and how political candidates present themselves is often characterized by the playlist they select. You can tell a lot about a person by the kind of music they listen to. This is probably why it is so painful when politicians pretend to like a particular genre of music that they so clearly have never listen to in their life. We judge them because there is an authenticity in musical preference that simply can’t be replicated.

Music Brings People Together

There is nothing like a music concert to bring people together. It’s no surprise that music festivals are some of the most popular events around the world – we all love to dance, sing and enjoy all kinds of music and every single culture in the world has their own styles. Music doesn’t differentiate – it doesn’t care about your socioeconomic background, your gender, politics or race. If you love the same music as someone else, you probably don’t care about these things either.

If you want to make new friends, music is one of the best ways to bond. Whether you love to go and see live music or you enjoy making your own, music eases social tensions and makes it easier for people to get along. Joining a band or an orchestra is also great for forming social bonds because you have to work together to create the sound you want.

When you share something like music, you will find that you become more tolerant of other people. Musicians are good at disagreeing amicably, for one thing. We are all aware and proud of having different tastes, which is perhaps why musicians are so good at talking to each other without falling out! Or perhaps why string players tend to hang out with other string players and the brass stick together!

Music Expresses Difficult Emotions

If sharing ideas is hard enough, trying to express an emotion using language is almost impossible. Language doesn’t come close to expressing something so complex as emotion – even its poets do a little bit better than most of us. Because emotions are intangible, sometimes, they need something more than the structures enforced by the language.

We all know that when we need a boost, a bouncy beat and a happy melody make all the difference. We also know that when films want to evoke a particular mood, they will use a particular style of music – this is why John Willams and Andre Desplat get the big bucks, they are master mood manipulators!

Music is incredibly human. That’s why we love it and recognize the emotions held within the music. Interestingly, it seems that music makes us more aware of our emotions and can impact the way we view the emotions of other people. For example, listening to happy music while looking at smiling faces makes the people in the pictures seem happier. Likewise, sad music makes us perceive sad faces to be even more miserable.

Music Outlasts Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s can rob you of your memories and your personality but it cannot rob you of your music. People with alzheimer’s can often remember and sing along to music, particularly the songs from their childhood. This is an incredible discovery because it shows just how fundamental music is to our expression. Even when we have lost language, we can still hum along to our favorite tunes.

Music is great for all dementia patients as it can soothe anxiety and calm them down when they aren’t sure what is going on. Happy music can cheer anyone up and soft gentle music is relaxing, no matter who you are. Music also evokes a sense of place which can be invaluable to someone who is often confused about where they are.

There is no doubt that music is good for the soul. Singing and dancing to music are the most human things we can do and it’s almost impossible to resist tapping your foot to a funky beat. Music stays with us throughout our lives and brings us together. It’s a social glue that helps us to express those things that language simply can’t from complex ideas to emotions.

So listen to music, seek it out wherever you go and try listening to new genres. Open your mind to music and learn from it. Learn to play it! Sing in the shower! Embrace the sounds that are so good for your soul.

Your brain on music | Alan Harvey | TEDxPerth

Beautiful Inspirational Music

Amazing Flute Music By Lord Krishna | Relaxing Mind | Spiritual Music