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17 Evidence-Based Benefits Of Music Education

June 15, 2020 - 09:00 AM Learn more about the science behind music education at We The Parents.

The S.T.O.P. Practice: Creating Space Around Automatic Reactions

June 08, 2020 - 07:00 AM Rhonda Magee takes us through this simple portable mindfulness practice she uses to find calm when difficult moments arise. This “portable” mindfulness practice can support you as difficult moments arise at any point in your day. The four steps of the STOP practice can take as little as a few seconds to a few minutes to complete. Try it out and see how long you prefer doing each step. S To begin, the “S” stands simply for stop. Literally. Just stop what you’re doing, whether it is typing or rushing out the door. Give yourself a moment to come to rest, pause, and collect yourself. T The “T” stands for take a conscious......

How Your Brain Creates Your Sense of Self

May 28, 2020 - 02:44 PM Our powerful brains allow us to imagine and evaluate different scenarios in the past and future. But when we shift our attention to the present, our minds can quiet down. Some years ago one of my neighbors worked in the film industry doing special effects. He showed me a brief clip for one of his projects, of a whale swimming underwater, and he mentioned that the powerful computers at his company had worked overnight to render that single beautiful scene. It seemed remarkable to me that it had taken many hours for their equipment to create a few seconds of imagery that the brain could produce at any time in the theater of imagination. The circuitry of this inner theater has been one of......

What Is Mindfulness Meditation?

May 28, 2020 - 09:00 AM It's easy to get caught up in a pattern of swirling thoughts—thinking about a laundry list of things that need to be done, ruminating on past events, or could-be situations of the future—and learning mindfulness can help. But what exactly is mindfulness? It can be defined as a mental state that involves being fully focused on "the now" so you can acknowledge and accept your thoughts, feelings, and sensations without judgment. Mindfulness meditation is a mental training practice that teaches you to slow down racing thoughts, let go of negativity, and calm both your mind and body. Mindfulness techniques can vary, but in general, mindfulness meditation involves a breathing......

3 Intriguing Connections Between Music and Sleep

March 29, 2020 - 10:00 AM By: Linda Wasmer Andrews The latest insights into how music affects you at bedtime and during sleep. Babies aren’t the only ones who love lullabies. Many people of all ages use music to improve their sleep. And sleep researchers are finding growing evidence to support this approach. Studies show that listening to or relaxing with music may be helpful even for those with short-term or long-lasting sleep disorders. For example, a recent analysis of published studies found that music offers clear benefits for primary insomnia—difficulty falling or staying asleep that isn’t due to medical problems, medications, or other substances. Yet much remains to be......

4 Things We Get Wrong About Stress, According To A Psychologist

March 26, 2020 - 10:00 AM By Eliza Sullivan For Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D., there's something off about the way we talk and think about stress: It's too one-dimensional and oftentimes too negative. The more negative impacts of stress aren't news to us, but is there an upside to stress? When she sat down with mindbodygreen co-CEO Jason Wachob on an episode of the mindbodygreen podcast, they were sure to talk about just that. It turns out there are a few things we get wrong about this common feeling, and McGonigal thinks stress may actually need something of a rebrand. McGonigal acknowledges that stress isn't always good and that it can interfere with our ability to be our best self, but......

How To Have A Good Weekend

March 22, 2020 - 10:00 AM By: Sam Sanders NPR Americans are pretty stressed out. And we don't know how to relax. A recent Gallup study found that a majority of Americans (55%) said they were more angry, stressed and worried in 2018 than they have been at most points during the decade. And several other Gallup studies found that Americans are consistently more likely to be stressed and worried than much of the world. On top of that, Americans don't relax enough and enjoy their leisure time enough — two things that could help reduce those anxiety levels. One recent study found that just over a quarter of Americans plan to use all their vacation days. The rest of us — most of us......

Why You Must Believe In A Great Life To LIVE A Great Life

March 18, 2020 - 10:00 AM By Samantha Cervino It was not too long ago that I began to understand how life works. What life is and how I can make my life what I want it to be. How I want my life to look and feel like, every day. My life changed dramatically the minute I understood myself as a spiritual being; understanding what true faith and trust in the Universe — in God — really meant. For me, it opened my eyes completely to a whole new world. I now see myself as a unique being with much to offer and great wisdom to share with humanity. I am open to new experiences. I see the opportunity in everything. I am fearless. I feel confident and strong. I wrote this blog so you may take from it what......

What is Music Therapy?

March 15, 2020 - 10:00 AM Music therapy is something that many of us might not be familiar with. However, it has been used to treat a range of mental health issues. It’s only natural that you’d want to learn more about its magical qualities, especially since it can help with physical disorders as well. According to the University of Pennsylvania researchers (link to the study: BMJ journal) music showed a significant decrease of preoperative anxiety on patients. They were listening to a very relaxing song before an operation. There are many other success stories. For example, parents used music therapy on their blind children. The therapy can help them make gains in every area of development. The......

Music Is Good for the Soul, and Your Health

March 12, 2020 - 10:00 AM Research demonstrates music therapy provides a wide range of benefits. We’ve all heard the idiom, “Music is good for the soul.” But according to the evidence, it’s good for your health as well. Study after study has found that music therapy has a positive effect on a broad range of physical and psychological conditions including dementia, anxiety, depression, and cancer. Music therapy is a service that can be delivered by psychologists, therpaists, or caregivers in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and even outpatient clinics. The goal is to improve people’s health through music experiences such as free improvisation,......

News

17 Evidence-Based Benefits Of Music Education

The S.T.O.P. Practice: Creating Space Around Automatic Reactions

How Your Brain Creates Your Sense of Self

What Is Mindfulness Meditation?

3 Intriguing Connections Between Music and Sleep

4 Things We Get Wrong About Stress, According To A Psychologist

How To Have A Good Weekend

Why You Must Believe In A Great Life To LIVE A Great Life

What is Music Therapy?

Music Is Good for the Soul, and Your Health

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