Rhythm and Healing

Rhythm may be the oldest and most direct form of communication. Drums are a part of every type of cultural musical heritage, with a wide variety of rhythmic systems and instruments. The drum serves us well as a vehicle for keeping us healthy by:

  • Personal expression and joy
  • Stress reduction and energy circulation
  • Balanced coordination
  • Physical strength, and endurance
  • Creating a sense of connection to others
  • Being in the present moment NOW
  • Connecting to spirituality

“Oh Great Spirit Thank you for the Sacred Drum…whose round form represents the entire universe… whose steady, strong beat is the pulse of the heart… this sound stirs us and helps us to understand the mystery and power of all our relations”

~ Black Elk

With a venerable history as a healing art, it’s no surprise that scientists are now finding measurable positive immune system changes following one-hour drumming sessions. Research from Dr. Barry Bittman indicates that facilitated group drumming enhances the activity of specific cellular immune components that are responsible for seeking out and destroying cancer cells and viruses. The degree to which such changes must occur in the context of disease control or prevention is yet unknown. Ultimately, such strategies may serve to favorably modulate the basic critical determinants of our health.

With fun and wisdom we use the art of drumming and percussion to ignite your creativity, release tension and anxiety, exercise the body, and communicate with a power beyond words.
 
Specific rhythm- based activities include:

  • Proper playing techniques and stylistic exercises
  • “Personal Power Practice” Drumming: Rhythms of the 7 Sacred Directions for prayer and meditation
  • Interactive rhythm exercises for teambuilding
  • Drumming to enhance physical stamina, coordination, balance
  • “I am the Drum”: Individual rhythmic expression, path-work, and stress release
  • “Personal Pulse” body percussion exercises
  • Rhythm games and “mandalas”
  • Drumming circle facilitation techniques
  • Teacher training for classroom rhythm based activities
  • Instrument construction techniques

Here is a brief “Power Practice” drumming exercise to use the drum in a healing way:

 

"We must learn to listen very carefully to the sound of the drum. The drum, like all our relations, is alive and it is trying to tell you something. Listen with more than just your ears. To hear the voice of the drum you must listen with your entire being. Ask your drum and your helping spirits to help you. State your intention in a clear and concise manner and then open yourself to the help that comes. You must open the heart and empty the mind. Become like a hollow bone and allow the power of the spirits to fill you. Give up the need for control. This requires an attitude of surrender and trust.

 

Always begin a drumming session by softly stroking the drum, and then gradually increase the intensity of your playing. It is much better to awaken a drum’s spirit gently and softly. Imagine someone yelling loudly to awaken you from a deep sleep. Sustain a steady pulse of about 3 to 4 beats per second. As you play, close your eyes and focus on the sound of the drum, keeping your mind open to insights. Do not worry about missing a beat or falling out of rhythm. Allow yourself to be swept along with the rhythm. If your mind wanders, bring the focus of your attention back to the sound of the drum. Stay aware of what you are experiencing without trying to analyze or question its meaning. Simply observe the thoughts and ideas as they flow in and out of awareness. Insight and guidance may come through sounds, symbols, or images. It may simply be an intuitive, knowing awareness. Just go with the flow and learn through your experience. Accept whatever happens with humility and grace. "

 

~ From The Shamanic Drum by Michael Drake

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