Therapeutic Drumming utilizes traditional rituals, ceremonies, rhythms, and chants as a means to access a transformative healing process. Connecting participants to a deeper part of themselves and to the larger world around them, therapeutic drumming is an ancient approach to healing that focuses on self-expression.
From the Malinke Tribe of West Africa to the Squamish people of Western Canada, drumming has been used for thousands of years to strengthen and maintain physical, mental, and spiritual health. As an expressive arts intervention, therapeutic drumming is a holistic form of therapy where the client and the therapist work collaboratively to achieve goals by utilizing the learning, growing and healing process.
If your inner voice is screaming, “That’s what I do” then my friend, you are in the right place. Now let me blow your mind with the supporting research.
Who wouldn’t want to skip the influx of runny noses and sore throats this cold and flu season? Research has found that participants who actively engaged in therapeutic drumming saw improvements in their immune system functioning. And for therapeutic drumming participants with cancer, there was an indication of an increase in cancer-killing cells.
Wow!- Increase Alpha Brain Waves
Gamma, Beta, Alpha, Theta, and Delta – You may think I’m talking about college sororities.
Nope. I am actually talking about the five different types of brain waves.
Research shows that therapeutic drumming can move participants from Beta Waves which are associated with normal consciousness and a heightened state of awareness to Alpha Waves which are present during quietly flowing thoughts, daydreams, and light meditation.
Amazing!
Stress does the strangest things to our bodies. In my personal experience, whenever my stress levels increase significantly, I relive my teenage years with the un-welcomed hormonal breakout followed by a case of the
‘tummy-issues’. I’m sorry, for the overshare, I just wanted to highlight the impact of stress on the body.
According to current research, stress is either the primary cause or a contributing factor to nearly all disease. Therapeutic drumming helps with the release of melatonin, norepinephrine, serotonin, and prolactin. These neurohormones contribute to rest and relaxation.
Bring on the drumming!
Migraines? Arthritis? Fibromyalgia? Chronic pain presents itself in many forms with one common factor. Chronic pain makes living life normally very difficult. Therapeutic drumming not only serves as a really fun distraction for those dealing with physical pain, but research shows that drumming promotes the production of endorphins and endogenous opiates which are our bodies naturally produces painkillers.
No Way!
Traumatic life events can have such an influential impact on our lives. One of the most prominent effects of trauma is the impact on the brain. Check out my previous post on surviving trauma during the holidays. Therapeutic drumming provides those who have experienced trauma with the medium to express and address emotional issues. Drumming promotes a connection of different parts of the brain such as the right and life hemisphere, as well as the brain stem to the cerebral cortex. These connections help the trauma survivor process through their past on a biological level.
Fantastic!
