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Relaxing music can often be a calm bit of respite when trying to navigate the busyness of daily life. However, did you know there is scientific and music theory that claims relaxing music can actually relax the mind?

This is known as the process of psychoacoustics. And it can have plenty of benefits for those that have an overactive mind or struggle to relax after a hard day.

In this article, we will explain what is psychoacoustics and how exactly does it work. Music and songs can help people with decluttering their minds.

It can also help them to access a more relaxed state. Read on to find out more.

What Is Psychoacoustics?

Music and spirituality have always been closely linked. This can be traced back in history to religious ceremonies in Eastern India and also Western Christianity. It's communicated through the methods of chanting, songs, and different musical accompaniments.

The idea for the inclusion of music and song in these religious ceremonies was to aid the body to a deeper state of relaxation. It also cleared the mind to receive well-being effects. It altered the state of the listener's consciousness and helped them to feel more open to their god's message.

This is something that was revisited and analyzed in the 1970s and 1980s by scientific researchers. The conclusion was that certain music played at a certain frequency and tempo can have relaxation and health benefits on the body.

This study, known as psychoacoustics, suggests that this type of music can promote wellness and vitality in the body. It can also aid in recovery and healing.

How Does it Work?

Psychoacoustics uses music as a kind of therapy that can have positive mental and physical effects on the body.

The rhythm and depth of the music can be used in tandem with other activities to access a deeper state of consciousness. This can help with the reparation of feeling overworked or highly stressed in daily life.

The music can be repetitive chords, drones, or natural sounds that act as a sonic mantra to the listener. It allows them to focus on the gentle rhythm and tone of the piece and gently unwind and relax as a result.

It can be played on different instruments such as Tibetan singing bowls, pianos, or even harps.

The music is meant to harmonize and work at a frequency in tune with the Earth's gravitation pull and 'heartbeat'. This, in turn, can also lower a listener's heart rhythm and beats per minute as they listen, meaning they can feel calmer and more at peace.

Using Psychoacoustics at Home

If you want to use psychoacoustic music at home, it's so simple and easy to do. You can use the music in doing meditation sessions as well as yoga or pilates.

It's even something you can do on your lunch break or after work. This is also easier with a large percentage of people now working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

All you need is a comfortable environment that you can use that is quiet and peaceful. This could be a spare bedroom or even your living room with a few adjustments.

If you want, you can light some candles or incense and dim the lights to make the space feel more peaceful. You can then use your psychoacoustic soundtrack for your chosen activity and fully engage with relaxing your body and mind.

This can be a perfect opportunity to devote some time away from the grind of your responsibilities and focus on healing and repair. You can also use this relaxing music as a way to unwind at the end of the day. It can then help you drift into a comfortable night's sleep.

Using Psychoacoustics for Your Business

Relaxing psychoacoustic music doesn't have to just be confined to the home. It can also play a part in certain businesses and activities. Places such as yoga studios, massage or spa parlors, and tai chi studios can benefit from the introduction of this music.

The relaxing music can aid customers and participants to get to a deeper state of relaxation, then they would without any music playing. Many people indulge in these kinds of wellness activities as a way of relieving stress and relaxing.

By using a soundtrack that is scientifically proven to aid in relaxation and rest, it means that they can reach beyond their usual state of being relaxed and increase their results.

It could facilitate better yoga or tai chi stances in studios. This can help customers become more advanced with their techniques. Or, it can help them enjoy a more restorative mindset.

In terms of spa or reiki healing businesses, it might allow customers to feel a greater sense of stress relief in tandem with the spa or reiki treatments. The music provides a tranquil environment and setting the customer to get maximum enjoyment from.

Understanding the Science of Psychoacoustics: Where Can I Find Out More?

We hope this article on the science of psychoacoustics has given you more historical and scientific background on why music can be so important for our health.

Everybody has certain songs that can bring back memories or takes you back to a different time in your life. Music has an emotional effect on our bodies, and it can be used to benefit our wellbeing not only mentally but physically.

Trying out psychoacoustic music can help with stress relief, remove fear, and help relax the tightness in muscles. It can also help with positive affirmations and bring a sense of balance and harmony to your life.

If you are interested in finding out more about any of our soundtracks, contact us via the contact page. 

Between work and your busy home life, you can’t seem to grab two seconds to breathe. The stress you’re under is intense and you feel like the entire weight of the world is on your shoulders. If this sounds like you, it might be time for you to slow down and try to squeeze yoga for mind relaxation into your schedule.

There are many mental benefits of yoga. Stress is only one thing that it can take care of. It can also help you build a relationship with yourself, better your relationship with your partner, boost your intelligence, and kick depression to the curb.

Keep reading to learn more about why you should sign up for classes today.

It Moves You Over to the Parasympathetic Nervous System

There are two different parts of your nervous system, the parasympathetic and the sympathetic. The sympathetic nervous system is what's in charge of your "fight or flight" mode. The parasympathetic nervous system is better known as the "rest and digest" mode.

The calm, deep breathing associated with yoga can switch you out of "fight or flight" mode and put your body and mind into a state of ease.

It Helps You Build a Relationship with Yourself

As you delve deep into yoga, you'll start to see yourself in a new light. It's sort of like doing a trust exercise with yourself. You'll suddenly start to become aware of the value that you possess which will have you exercising more and paying closer attention to your diet.

This newfound sense of self will give you a boost of confidence without overinflating your ego, of course. Yoga is all about balance after all.

It Will Improve Your Relationship with Your Partner as Well

Yoga won't only improve your relationship with yourself. It will improve your relationship with your partner as well. One of the main reasons why people break up is misplaced anger.

You come home from a bad day at work and take it out on your spouse when one of their little quirks pushes you over the edge. Yoga will help you learn to manage your anger so you don't take it out on your poor unsuspecting spouse.

Going off of our last point, when you start to appreciate yourself more, you'll begin to appreciate all of your partner's "annoying" little quirks as well.

It Can Boost Your Intelligence

Taking yoga can actually make you more intelligent, believe it or not. The practice has the power to link the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid with the other cells in your brain. This will reduce depression but that's not all it does.

You see, the more cells that are connected in your brain, the more cognitive functionality and memory you'll have access to. You'll feel smarter and be able to process information much faster and easier.

It Decreases Stress and Improves the Mood

Going back to the example above, low GABA levels are considered to be one cause of depression. As soon as activity increases and it becomes connected to your other brain cells, your depression will become a thing of the past.

Yoga will also increase other hormones in your brain such as, serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin. You'll feel happy and more energetic. Not to mention you might get a sudden spark of inspiration to go finish up that creative project that you've been neglecting.

You also won't have as much anxiety clouding your mood. As the happy chemicals in your brain begin to come alive, your cortisol levels go down. Cortisol is the hormone in your brain that causes you to feel fear.

Cortisol is also known to make the size of your brain's prefrontal cortex shrink. Without your prefrontal cortex intact, it will be harder for you to practice helpful skills such as self-discipline.

It Can Help You Overcome a Traumatic Experience

A traumatic experience is something that can and will haunt you for the rest of your days. While yoga can't make that experience go away, it can help you cope with it to some degree.

Delving into yoga will send you into a more primal state of being. This will allow you to tackle your fears head-on in a safe environment that's free from any stimulus that might send you into a relapse.

Again, it will also reduce the cortisol levels in your brain so you can push your anxiety down and focus on developing healthy coping mechanisms.

It Can Reduce Pain Symptoms

If you've suffered from some kind of injury, yoga can help you manage your pain symptoms. While you may not be able to physically do the poses with a broken limb, there's still a way for you to practice the teachings. That is through meditation.

The mindfulness techniques used in meditation has a great effect on the parts of your brain that are responsible for managing pain. After a while of practicing these techniques, your sensitivity to pain will go down.

This being said, meditation isn't a replacement for surgery or the regular treatment methods suggested to you by your doctor. It's just a way to quell your pain symptoms until you heal.

The Many Uses of Yoga for Mind Relaxation

There are many reasons to consider yoga for mind relaxation. It interferes with parts of your brain to reduce fear, promote happiness, boost your intelligence, and it can even make it easier for someone to recover from an injury.

So, what are you waiting for? Book a class or grab a mat and a little relaxing music to practice yoga at home. We can help you with the music part. Go here to browse through our selection.

Around 2,000 years ago, tai chi was developed in Ancient China.

Tai chi is perfect in this fast-paced world as it lets us slow down, get in tune with our bodies, and reap the many health benefits. But tai chi is as good as the environment it’s practiced in.

If you’re unsure where to start, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s everything you need to know about tai chi practice.

What Is Tai Chi?

To recap, practical tai chi is where you combine your mind, body, and spirit to cultivate “Qi” or life energy. You do this through a combination of deep breathing and flowing movements.

There are many styles of tai chi but the main ones are Chen, Yang, Wu-Hao, and Wu.

How to Do Tai Chi

Here we'll discuss how to practice tai chi at home. Although beginners may benefit from attending classes, it's possible to create the perfect environment yourself.

For example:

Focus

Not sure how to practice tai chi?

The best advice is to focus on the present. Tai chi trains you to combine mental focus and physical action, so be aware of your body and your surroundings.

If you’re in the park, observe the process of nature like the sun warming your face or hearing the wind rustle the leaves. Noticing the flows of energy in nature lets you tap into your Qi.

Relax

In tai chi, you find inner stillness while moving your body. This means you don’t tighten or use your muscles too much.

When you do this, you fall into a rhythm that will let you focus and move freely.

Keep a Natural Posture

During your tai chi daily practice, you must maintain a natural pose. This means you keep your body upright, back straight, and align your shoulders over your hips.

Most importantly, keep your feet flat to stay balanced.

Put On Tai Chi-Friendly Music

Playing tai chi music when you practice creates a perfect, calm atmosphere. Relaxing music declutters your mind so you can focus on your session.

As a result, it’s easier for you to focus on each position and tap into your inner stillness so you’re fully immersed in your tai chi practice.

Notice Your Breathing

Breathe naturally through your nose as you practice. You should relax your stomach so it expands as you inhale and contract as you exhale. When you’re focusing too hard, especially as a beginner, it’s easy to hold your breath but avoid this as it blocks the fluidity necessary in tai chi.

Move Slowly

Many sports or exercises focus on exertion or straining to improve your strength and endurance. But tai chi builds this through slow, relaxed, movements when you’re flexed. This means that the slower you move, the stronger you’ll be.

Separate Your Weight

An important aspect of tai chi is separating your weight. You’ll notice practitioners balance on one foot otherwise known as “separating the weight”. This practice increases your leg strength and maintains a good balance.

When you do this, keep your body upright and make sure your weight rests on your stable foot. Focus on your connection to the ground at all times as it’s one of the most important aspects of tai chi.

Move From Your Center

Make your body a single column where your upper body is perfectly aligned over your bottom-half. Any arm or hand movements must rotate on either side without tensing or twisting your spine. Remember, you must be fluid when practicing tai chi.

Feel Your Body Become Connected

Don’t control the movement. Instead, let it arise naturally from inside and then follow. For instance, your arms move because energy flows from your base and not on their own.

Wear Softer Soled Shoes

Because your base is so important in tai chi, you must feel the earth beneath your feet. Wear thin-soled shoes like moccasins to connect with the earth so the energy rises up through your body.

You should also wear softer shoes more in your everyday life so you feel a renewed sense of energy.

Persevere With Your Practice

Like with every new skill, you must consistently practice so you can absorb and understand the main principles of tai chi. Only through practice will you reap the health benefits and improve steadily.

For motivation, ask your friend to practice especially if you feel embarrassed doing tai chi alone in the park.

Find the Right Style For You

As mentioned, there are various tai chi styles so it’s important to find the best one for you. For instance, the Yang style is the most practiced around the globe and it emphasizes slow, gentle movements.

Chen style is the oldest and it alternates between fast and slow movements alongside jumping and stomping. Wu Hao style, or “the first Wu style”, is a blend of Chen and Yang styles where practitioners have slow movements and maintain a high posture.

The second Wu style, or “Wu style”, is the second most popular practice characterized by its hand darm where you push energy towards your hands.

That's How to Start a Beginner Tai Chi Practice

Now you know the best ways to have a successful tai chi practice.

Tai chi emphasizes stillness so you can focus on movements and reap the benefits. To tap into this, play relaxing music so you can concentrate on the flow of energy and fully immerse yourself in tai chi. Have fun!

If you're looking for music for your tai chi practice, we'd love to help. Check out our royalty free tai chi music here.

America is facing a stress crisis. A recent study showed that 75% of Americans had experienced moderate to high stress levels in the past month.

So it's not surprising that there has been an explosion of interest in mindfulness and meditation, to combat the stresses and strains of modern life. But have you ever tried to meditate, and felt like you're doing it wrong?

it's hard to know where to start with meditation and mindfulness. Many people find it hard to relax and fend off distractions. Finding the best meditation music can help to focus the mind to achieve the best deep sleep and relaxation in a variety of settings in your daily life.

Read on to find out about the best meditation music ever, to help you achieve your personal nirvana.

How Music Can Help With Meditation and Mindfulness

The purpose of meditation and mindfulness is to train the mind to achieve a calm and stable state. Many people practice meditation and mindfulness intending to reduce stress and anxiety and increase their sense of well-being and inner peace.

But it's hard to get started! Have you ever sat down to try to meditate, and felt your mind jumping all over the place?

It sounds easy just to sit quietly, focus on your breath, and clear your mind. But your thoughts wander to your email inbox, what groceries you need to buy, and all sorts of other mental clutter.

Many practitioners call this the "monkey mind", prone to leaping around and refusing to be calmed. This is where the best meditation music can help. Music can provide a focus and allow a sense of deep calm.

Meditation Music Through the Ages

People have been using music as an aid to meditation for centuries, perhaps since the very beginning of human history. For example, Gregorian chant originated way back in the 6th century AD, to focus the mind for prayer.

Fast-forward to the 1970s and the ambient genre was born, including classic albums by Brian Eno. Eno intended his music to be both ignorable and interesting - to be tuned into, or tuned out of, as suits the listener.

Today, there's a wide range of meditation music available to suit all settings, so how do you choose? Whether it's the best deep sleep you're seeking or music to aid focus with studying, there's relaxing and calming music available to help.

The Best Meditation Music for Deep Relaxation

Listening to relaxing music has been proven to have a variety of health benefits. This includes reducing anxiety and depression, helping you to sleep better, improving focus and concentration when studying, and providing stimulation during yoga and meditation.

So here is a quick guide to the various settings where music can help you and the best meditation music to use in each situation.

The Best Meditation Music for Sleep

Listening to music before you go to sleep is a great way to improve your sleep patterns. Relaxing music with a slow rhythm can help to prepare the body for sleep, ensuring that you have the best deep sleep. It's a really easy, inexpensive, and natural way to ensure you have the most restorative sleep to improve your mental, physical, and emotional health.

Music for Studying

Many students feel very stressed, with impending deadlines looming and also worries about finances which can feel overwhelming for young people. Younger kids can also suffer from stress, due to pressure at school. Listening to music can help to reduce stress and also improve focus during long study sessions, for students of all ages.

Lots of people find it hard to concentrate in total silence and need some background music, but this mustn't be too distracting. Calming and repetitive music can be the perfect answer to this problem and meditation music fits the bill exactly.

At the Spa

Maybe you are a spa owner or beauty therapist and you want to make sure that your clients have the most relaxing experience possible while they are with you.

It's a great idea to play relaxing ambient music, maybe with some nature sound effects, while your clients have their treatments. This will help them ease into the deepest relaxation and free their minds from the stresses of modern life.

Or perhaps you just want to recreate the atmosphere of the spa at home, while you have a pampering session. Adding the best meditation music ever to this experience will certainly help it to be more relaxing and restorative, refreshing your mind for any challenges you face in your daily life.

At the Yoga Studio

Music during any type of workout session has been shown to help focus and encourage people to work out harder and for longer. It's no different with yoga. Having the right soundtrack to your workout, whether in the studio or at home, can really help you to sink into a deep state of mindfulness and full flow.

Deep Meditation Practice

Perhaps you're struggling to concentrate during your meditation practice and finding it difficult to free your mind from distractions? It's hard to stay focused when there is so much going on in life and in the world around us.

The great meditation guru, Osho, said that music and meditation are two aspects of the same phenomenon. Music adds depth to your meditation session, to help you achieve a deeper inner focus and pure mindfulness.

Integrating Music Into Your Daily Life

Do any of these settings describe you right now? Are you having trouble sleeping, or struggling to stay focused while studying? Or perhaps your yoga or meditation practice could do with an overhaul.

Integrating music into your daily life will help you to slow down, breathe, and relax, whatever the challenges you may face as you go about your busy life.

Check out our range of the very best meditation music, to help you achieve inner peace, focus, and calm in all aspects of your life.

Listening to relaxing music is an activity that can provide a lot of positive effects on your life.

Here are nine surprising ways that listening to the right music can improve both your physical and mental health.

Did you know that in a recent study on students living around the country, more than 44% said they felt stressed all the time? Being a student can be overwhelming with all the expectations and responsibilities it places on a kid. 

Often times students don't know how to handle stress and take on more than they are capable of. This can affect their mental and physical health in negative ways.

One way to help your children learn more effectively is through music. Listening to music while studying will benefit them in many ways, keep reading to find out how.

1. Music Will Reduce the Stress of Being a Student

Your children can find being a student incredibly stressful. During the middle of a school year or semester is when they seem to have the most work and therefore the most stress. 

Listening to some music during study sessions or before class can help reduce student stress. Music can definitely help keep a student's stress at a minimum and keep them from getting overwhelmed by their busy life. This method will also help the student learn better. 

If your kid needs to wind down after a long school day, listening to relaxing music is the best thing they can do for themselves. 

2. It Can Help Students Focus 

If you're wondering how music affects learning, know that it has a huge impact on focus. Getting distracted during class or while reading over your notes is pretty common, sometimes it's hard to focus. 

Listening to study music will actually push the brain to pay more attention to the information in front of the student. It will also help process the information in a better way and improve comprehension of it. 

Slow and consistent music will improve the way a student learns the subjects they are studying, it will help them retain more information. 

3. Music can Lower Anxiety Before a Big Test 

Test anxiety is a serious issue for many students. It's not just a bit of nervousness before an exam though. Test anxiety can actually make a student fail a test even if they know all of the information to do well. 

Trying to cram in last-minute studying before an exam can actually cause more stress and do more harm. A good thing to do is to listen to some relaxing study music and go into your test with ease and confidence. 

4. It Helps Students Function Under Pressure

As a student, it's inevitable to feel some type of pressure during school. Some students do great under pressure, while others seem to crumble under it every time. Listening to study music has actually proven to help students perform better under pressure, even if they haven't done so well in the past. 

Since music helps improve mood, it will only give a student more confidence when they feel the pressure of midterm or finals week looming around the corner. If a student is able to function more successfully under pressure then their academic performance will continue to improve. 

5. Music Can Improve Student Productivity 

Music and studying should always go hand in hand. Sometimes a study session can drag on for hours longer than it was meant to. Not being able to get through a simple study session can be a problem. 

Just as music has been proven effective in improving the productivity of an adult at work, listening to relaxing music while studying can improve a student's productivity when it comes to their school work.

6. It Can Improve Memory

Listening to music can actually help with improving memory. This can really come in handy when trying to remember concepts for an exam. 

Music almost always elicits an emotional response and remembering how something makes you feel is always easier than remembering other details. This is why some students can easily remember hundreds of song lyrics but have trouble with vocabulary words or scientific concepts. 

Musical patterns are easier to understand and help to process information in a more digestible way. Hence why listening to music while studying is a great way to improve memory and become a better student. 

7. Music Will Help Stimulate Your Brain

Studying with music will open up your mind in a way that helps you learn better, faster, and ultimately more. Music is sort of like exercise for the brain and helps keep students on their toes while learning more. It is proven to improve cognition. 

Because music stimulates the brain in a way studying without it can't, listening to study music can help when stuck writing a paper or working on a project.

Writer's block is a real issue and even though you've gotten through eight pages of a ten-page paper, those last two pages might seem impossible to finish. Music can help a student come up with the ideas needed to write a successful paper. 

8. Helps Decrease Pain to Help You Study Better

Listening to soothing music has been proven to reduce pain significantly. If you struggle with pain or have suffered a recent injury, being able to focus on studying seems almost impossible.

But listening to music while you study can actually reduce the pain and help you focus on what's important, acing that test!

Listening to Music While Studying to Succeed

Listening to music while studying will help you see improvements in so many ways. Music has a lot of proven benefits for students, as stated in this blog. Contact us with any questions you may have about relaxing music for studying. 

Did you know that about 164 million Americans have trouble sleeping at least one day a week? That's a lot of people that can't shut off their minds and get the quality sleep they need to function. 

In the fast-paced environment in which we live, we are constantly being pulled in multiple directions. So it's not completely shocking to hear so many people struggle with sleep. 

Americans spend so many resources looking for ways to improve their sleep. They turn to sleep medication, books on the topic, and top of the line pillows. 

What if the very simple act of sleeping with music helped improve the quality of your sleep? Continue reading to see some of the great benefits of using music as a sleep aid. 

Improved Sleep Patterns

To sleep with music is one of the best ways to improve your sleep patterns. The biggest issue many people face is getting into bed and not being able to fall asleep right away. Waking up multiple times during the night or waking up early and not being able to fall back asleep are other ways that reveal bad sleep patterns. 

Listening to music before going to bed can actually fix these issues and improve your sleep patterns significantly, helping you fall asleep faster. Playing some relaxing music before bed each night will train your body to recognize when it's time to slow down and rest. 

Reduced Stress Leads to Better Sleep

Soothing music will always improve mood and reduce your stress levels from a hectic day. When stress has been reduced it's just easier to fall asleep. 

Struggling with emotional health can lead to a lack of sleep as well and add even more stress to your life. Music has been proven to improve emotional health and reduce stress. Once those two are in order, better sleep is bound to occur. 

The reason why listening to music before bed can help improve emotional health is because of its ability to activate the emotional part of our brains. 

Pain Reliever to Help You Sleep

Believe it or not, listening to music to help you sleep will help relieve pain. Body pain often makes sleeping more difficult. Being in pain won't let you sleep properly but music can help relieve pain and lead to better sleep.

Scientists believe that music might help relieve pain because of the way it helps relieve tension, not only emotionally but physically too. Music is known to reduce tension in your muscles and so that release of tension will ease the pain you're feeling. 

Music Relaxes Your Body Systems

When searching for relaxing music to fall asleep to, keep in mind that you need something that will help slow down your body systems to help you get to a state of relaxation.

Music that has a slower rhythm will not only slow your breathing but it will lower your heart rate and blood pressure. Calming your nervous system will ease your body into sleep every time. 

Listening to relaxing music is basically telling your bodies that they should start to get sleepy and then they do. 

Music Is an Easy and Inexpensive Sleep Aid

When people have trouble sleeping, they become desperate to get help in any way possible. Often people will spend a lot of money on sleeping pills without trying other methods out first. People will also spend hours of their day doing research and reading self-help books to no avail. 

Music is free and easy to use as a sleep aid. It doesn't require much work, just lay down and let the music calm your mind. 

Sleeping With Music Will Sharpen Your Mind 

While there are many benefits to using music for going to sleep, improving the quality of your sleep, the benefits of how you'll feel after waking up are just as important. Being able to get a good night's sleep or a power nap during an afternoon slump is ideal for feeling refreshed and having more energy throughout the day. 

Not only will you have more energy during a school or workday but you'll also be able to focus more on the tasks on hand and therefore be more productive. Playing music right before bed has also been linked to the ability to think more creatively. Getting quality sleep from listening to music can also improve your ability to participate in physical exercise. 

Music Will Release Your Happy Hormones

The chemical serotonin is known for being a factor in a human's happiness and overall wellbeing. It also helps regulate your sleep cycles. 

Having some relaxing background music on while you sleep is known to release serotonin and other happy hormones, like oxytocin, that aid in improving sleep. Music will also reduce the level of cortisol in your body, which keeps your body from resting and you from falling asleep. 

Playing some happy and relaxing music will not only help you fall asleep faster but it will help keep you in a good mood all day.

The Benefits of Sleeping to the Sound of Music

Falling asleep to music can provide many benefits. Listening to relaxing music right before bed will not only improve your sleep patterns but will help with your overall mood. The list above includes some of the best benefits of sleeping with music. 

Contact us with any questions you may have about relaxing music and ways it can help you sleep better!

Do you ever find yourself smiling when listening to your favorite song? How about tapping your foot subconsciously? Or walking with a little more pep in your step?

Many of us are moved by music.

Whether its jazz, classical, country, or rock, music transcends generations and cultures. As the sound of music fills our brain, we might find ourselves feeling positive. But it's not all in our heads.

Music has been shown to significantly lower anxiety and stress, increase moods, and even help us focus. This idea that music makes us relaxed or happier is actually backed by science.

So, what's the science behind music, and what makes us love it so much?

Music for Decreased Stress and Anxiety

An estimated 31 percent of US adults experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. Listening to music to relieve stress and anxiety is one of the most shared activities among humans.

Some of the most powerful factors contributing to anxiety and stress are hormone levels. When we feel threatened or distressed, the nervous system releases hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones can reach extremely high levels even as we go about our daily lives. 

Often referred to as nature's alarm clock, cortisol, and adrenaline levels work with brain functions to control mood, motivation, and fear. They also help regulate blood pressure, blood sugar, sleep cycles, and energy levels.

As stress and anxiety levels are increased, our brain is designed to react so that we are kept out of harm's way. When we listen to our favorite song or even a playlist of calming sounds, our body's natural reaction to stress is slowed down. As our cortisol and adrenaline levels decrease, our pulse, blood pressure, and heart rate are also relaxed.

A study conducted on surgery patients found that those patients who listened to instrumental music before and during surgery experienced significantly lower levels of cortisol than those who didn't. This decrease in cortisol levels was directly shown in lower levels of stress and anxiety in these patients.

If like so many of us, you experience anxiety, listening to relaxing music may help you to better navigate the daily stresses of life. 

Music's Effect on Brainwaves

The brain is made up of billions of cells that use electrical energy to communicate. These brain cells, called neurons, produce electrical activity that can be seen as brainwaves. Music is shown to significantly alter this brainwave activity. 

Most humans spend their lives at a normal level of brain activity. This means we are alert and concentrated while also experiencing some stress. When brainwave frequencies are lowered, we can learn and perform tasks with more precision and less distraction. 

But how can we calm down and lower these frequencies?

As we listen to music, our brain is partially focused on the sound. While focusing on this music, our brain's electrical patterns become slowed and brainwave frequency is lowered. This produces an effect on our body and mental state similar to that of meditation. 

While the concept of neurons and brain functions may seem complicated, there's no denying that lower frequencies of brainwave activity are extremely beneficial. Those that suffer from migraines or even Attention Deficit Disorder may also see a decrease in symptoms when listening to music. 

The calming effect that music has on brainwave activity is why many may choose to listen to music while completing everyday tasks like working or studying. If you're interested in relaxing music for studying that can improve your focus, shop our collection here.

How Music Can Make Us Happy

Aside from helping us to be more focused and productive, listening to music has also been shown to make us happier. Just as music can affect our automatic nervous system, it can also affect our limbic system. The limbic system is home to brain functions that affect our memory and emotions. 

The limbic system is composed of four main parts; the hypothalamus, the thalamus, the amygdala, and the hippocampus. These parts respond to emotional stimuli and regulate our reactions to them. The intense pleasure we get from listening to music is thanks to our brain's reaction to the sound. 

When listening to music, a "feel-good chemical" called dopamine is released. Dopamine can also be released during activities like exercising or eating delicious food. 

As we listen to songs like Beethoven's Symphony Number Nine or Harry Styles' Golden, our brain is constantly anticipating what's coming next. Even if we've heard the song a hundred times, the reinforcement we get from this anticipation comes in the form of pleasure, also known as dopamine. 

One study found that the improved mood cause by listening to music is often seen in physical reactions. Out of 27 participants, 16 experienced all-over goosebumps or shivers down the spine, otherwise known as "chills", as a way to indicate pleasure from listening to music. This reaction is just one physical form of proof that music has the ability to make us happier.

Music for Better Sleep

If you have trouble sleeping, you're not alone. An estimated 164 million Americans struggle with getting sleep at least once a week. 

Lack of sleep can have a wide range of negative effects on our health, like increased risk for obesity and heart disease. Not to mention the severe lack of focus we may experience due to lack of sleep. 

Many factors, including stress and anxiety, can contribute to sleep issues. Music, however, can help. When listening to music slows our heart-rate, breathing, and blood pressure, we feel more relaxed. These reactions mimic the way we feel when we're falling asleep. 

When older adults listen to calming music for 45 minutes before bed, they are shown to fall asleep faster, wake up less during the night, and feel more rested the next morning. When younger adults listen to classical music before bed, they are also shown to see a significant enhancement in their night's sleep.

If you're someone who struggles with sleep, our sleep music can help you get the necessary rest you deserve.

The Science Behind Music: It's Good for Us

Whether it's better sleep, increased focus, or reduced anxiety that we're searching for, music can often do the trick. The science behind music concludes that using music to calm you down actually has significant benefits for our health and overall well-being. 

If you're looking for music that relaxes and connects the mind and body with harmony, check out our playlists or contact us.