Music and Qigong

Music and Qigong   

Margarida Aires

Music may have beneficial effects on Human Beings and is used in various healing therapies. Besides help stopping thoughts and focus the mind, music, for its healing and regenerating effect, can be an excellent ally in Qigong practice.

Science has been discovering what Masters of Ancient Egypt used to say in one of the Seven Hermetic Principles: “Nothing rests; everything moves; everything vibrates”.

Everything in the Universe is in vibration, from the smallest particles such as atoms to planets and galaxies, everything is in motion, everything has a vibrating frequency, everything produces a specific sound. Also, the Human Being is in vibration. The vibration of the outer world influences our vibration just as our vibration affects everything around us. Several Natural Therapies use vibration to promote healing processes, whether through sound, colour, aroma, crystal, stones or plants.

Sound is produced by the vibration of a physical body that causes the surrounding air particles to go back and forth, pressure oscillations that propagate in all directions in a wave movement. The number of oscillations per second is called Frequency.

Every cell, tissue and organ in the body has a sound and together they create a harmonious frequency. The Human Being is a symphony of sounds in harmony, like a tuned orchestra. When something disturbs this harmony, the whole body is affected, disharmony sets in, and disease begins to develop. Music is a medicine for the body and soul, as a form of vibration and energy, it has been used for healing processes. To obtain the therapeutic effects of music, it is necessary to apply the frequency, rhythm, and intensity appropriate to the part of the body that is intended to treated. There are several healing therapies that use sound, such as Music Therapy, Chirophonetics, Sound Therapy with Tibetan Singing Bowls, Gong Bath Therapy, Monochord Table or Healing Tuned Pipes.

Music activates several regions of the brain, which explains many of its beneficial effects. There are several references about the effects of music on human beings. Pleasant music triggers the release of endorphins that act to relieve pain. Calm, relaxing music reduces breathing, heart rate and blood pressure. Music can promote a positive and profound emotional experience and lead to the secretion of immunosuppressants and a decrease in cortisol levels, strengthening the immune system. It can help reduce the intensity, frequency and duration of migraines and chronic headaches. It has a positive effect on learning ability, improves concentration and attention, reduces anxiety, stress and helps to relax.

Therapeutic Qigong, by promoting the free flow of Energy, in balance and harmony, activates our natural healing capacity.  Given its healing and regenerating effect, music can enhance the effects of Qigong practice. In addition to its therapeutic benefits, music can help to relax, turn off thoughts and focus the mind on the present moment.

However, for the effect of the music to be the intended one, and given that people have different sensibilities and experiences, it is necessary to be careful when choosing the music. For example, more upbeat music can disturb the fluidity and continuity of movements. More commercial music may not be pleasant to the practitioner and cause discomfort or be associated with negative experiences in the past (such as a separation, a moment of sadness or anguish) and have an opposite effect than intended. We can disturb and destabilize rather than promote relaxation and tranquillity.

The most neutral musical genre, and one that works well in Qigong practice, is ‘new age’ music or ‘zen’ music, as this genre is very much associated with relaxation practices. The brain will interpret this stimulus as something positive, trigger physiological processes related to well-being, relaxation and activate the Parasympathetic Nervous System.

When using music in Qigong practice, it is essential to listen to the music in its totality, beforehand, and make sure it is appropriate. Not all ‘zen’ music is suitable for practice, there are some that at first seem to be ideal, but later on are not.

In the practice of guided meditation or meditation that involves vocalizations (six healing sounds, mantras, etc.) it is preferable not to use music. Unless the focus of meditation is the music itself, it is best not to use music in meditation as one of the goals is to focus the mind and it is important to restrict external stimuli. Another care that must be taken is to adjust the volume, or sound intensity, to the space and voice of the instructor. Music should not interfere with the instructor’s good hearing, nor should the instructor raise their voice volume.

“Without music, life would be a mistake.” – Friedrich Nietzsche (philosopher, 1844-1900)