"Life is about rhythm. We vibrate, our hearts are pumping blood, we are a rhythm machine, that's what we are." ~ Mickey Hart, Planet Drum: A Celebration of Percussion and Rhythm
Drumming is a practice that's been used in every culture around the world since ancient times. It has a wonderful synchronizing effect on your energy and releases energy blocks. It's especially effective at releasing energy blocks that originate in emotional trauma, and releasing the negative emotions that are a sign of an energy block. For situations that are difficult to talk about, or for trauma that occurred at a pre-verbal stage of life, drumming can be the perfect nonverbal energy healing modality.
Energy is the basis of life. The state of your energy determines the state of your health including muscle tension, pain, the functioning of your body systems and your emotional-mental state. As such, when drumming synchronizes energy, it...
- reduces tension
- relieves stress
- relieves chronic pain
- boosts your immune system
Drumming is a wonderful way to open the energy centers, or chakras- especially the first chakra. The first chakra is the root energy center at the pelvic floor near the base of the spine. It appears as a red star on the body in the picture below:
Blockages in the first chakra disrupt our connection to the Earth and create an ungrounded state. These blockages are associated with:
- cancer
- arthritis
- colitis
- Alzheimer's disease
- inflammatory disease
- heart disease
- high blood pressure
- fibromyalgia
- chronic fatigue syndrome
- sexual dysfunction
- infertility
- endometriosis
- Cesarian Section births
If you have any of these issues, try incorporating drumming into your self-care practices. Drumming help with these issues by opening and synchronizing the first chakra, and through grounding. Click HERE to read more about why grounding is important and some tips on how to do it. And click HERE for an article about ground through Earthing.
Drumming is also meditative, synchronizing brain waves and facilitating states similar to sitting meditation. It helps bring you to the present moment. The health benefits of meditation are well-documented. For more about meditation, click HERE.
Drumming creates connection. It restores body-mind-spirit unity, and when done as a group, connects you to others...and it's FUN!
There's no right or wrong way to drum unless you are trying to learn specific drumming techniques. If you are just looking to improve your health, you don't need any musical talent! Just pick up a drum and rhymically bang away. Drumming is never too much or not enough.
When you're drumming, you might notice a relaxation response. You might feel tingly. Or you might feel a buzzing sensation, especially in your hands and your feet.
Here is a video clip from a sunset drumming circle on Treasure Island.
TO WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION OF THIS POST, CLICK HERE
