Three Ways Singing Makes You Healthier

Are you stressed? Singing is a simple and effective way to reduce stress and improve your overall health well being, both mentally and physically. These benefits can be classified into three broad groups: physical, emotional, and social.

Physical Benefits

Physically, singing helps you to strengthen your immune system. Researchers the University of Frankfurt tested a group of choristers before and after a one-hour session of singing. They found that the amount of immunoglobulin—an antibody that helps your body fight disease—was significantly higher after the session.

When you sing you give your lungs a workout. This is especially recommended for the elderly and people that have some form of disability in their voice related to disease or dysfunction. However, it is important to find a capable instructor to employ good singing techniques so as not to further damage vocal cords or lungs.

Singing also helps to improve your posture. Proper singing technique includes planting the feet firmly on the ground and not slouching the shoulders. These postures quickly become a habit for singers.

Emotional and Mental Benefits

Singing is a natural antidepressant. When you sing, your body releases endorphins—chemicals that make you feel happy. So, the next time you are feeling down break into your favorite song.

Singing also helps in lowering your stress levels. When you are stressed, a hormone called cortisol in your body increases. Singing is found to reduce the level of cortisol in the body, easing the tension and helping you to relax.

Singing also helps improve the flow of blood and oxygen to your brain. This can improve mental alertness, concentration, and your memory. Because music memories are stored in a different part of the brain, singing songs from their young adult years can help people with dementia to regain their memories

Social Benefits

The social benefits of singing are huge. First, it can help boost your confidence tremendously. In fact, people that suffer from stage fright are advised to sing in front of family and friends before a live performance.

Singing is also very good for improving your communication skills. According to Sally Goddard Blythe, a consultant in neuro-developmental education and author of the book The Genius of Natural Childhood, singing to babies helps to prepare their brains for language and may lessen the risk of language problems later in life. It also teaches them about tone, beat, and rhythm and may even enhance their natural mathematical and scientific abilities.

For adults, writing lyrics and songs helps build communication skills in a wide variety of ways. Singing can also increase your circle of friends. The camaraderie of group singing, whether in a choir or at karaoke, creates a deep and lasting bond of friendship.

It does not matter if you are doing it professionally or just for fun. There are numerous benefits to singing that you can start benefiting from today.

So what are you waiting for?