Sing Your Pain Away!
Singing for Wellbeing, Health and Fun
The Health Benefits of Singing
There has been a lot of recent scientific research into the health benefits of singing which have shown it to be very beneficial in a wide range of conditions including Anxiety, Arthritis, Cancer, Depression, Parkinsons, Fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, MS, Lung disease and Heart conditions. As well as being a lot of fun, singing in a group improves breathing, develops core muscles, lifts our mood and gives a sense of belonging and achievement. Singing in a group is thought to:-
Release pain relieving endorphins
Singing has been shown to release the brain's natural pain killer which may help to manage painful conditions like arthritis.
Exercise the brain
Music, words, rhythm, musical interpretation - singing puts the brain to work and keeps it active. There are also specialist singing groups for dementia sufferers which have shown many benefits.
Reduce Stress
A fascinating experiment by Channel 4's "Live Well for Longer" programme showed people who sang regularly in a choir had cortisol (stress) levels a whopping 50% lower than the average population!
Exercise the lungs
For those with COPD, asthma or other lung conditions, group singing is now being used as either an alternative or an add-on to traditional pulmonary rehab to help gain control over breathlessness.
Boost Immunity
A study by Tenovus Cancer Care and the Royal College of Music showed that just an hour of choral singing each week increased levels of immune proteins, reduced stress and improved mood.
Lower blood pressure
Singing increases oxygen levels in the blood and triggers the release of "happy" hormones such as oxytocin, which is thought to help lower stress and blood pressure.
Promote good posture
Whether you are sitting or standing, good posture is fundamental to good singing, so it's something we cover at the start of every class. But good posture is also great for staying fit, lessening joint problems and breathing well.
Improve sleep
Scientists have found that the calming effects of group singing are as beneficial to a person's health as yoga.
Enhance mood
We all know the uplifting feeling that singing gives us! But it's more than that. A year long study on people with mental health problems showed singing was "significantly" more effective at improving mood than a team sport. In fact, 60% of participants in the study saw a reduction in their mental distress.
Promote deep breathing
When we sing we learn deep (or diaphragmatic) breathing technique. Not only does this allow us to beautifully sing long phrases, this type of breathing slows the heartbeat and can lower or stabilize blood pressure. It is also a great way of helping to control anxiety.
Promote a sense of team work and achievement
There's nothing more uplifting than the feeling of having achieved something fabulous together. At Sing Your Pain Away our members often surprise themselves with how much they can achieve collectively - even those who thought they couldn't sing!
Provide a forum to socialise with like-minded people
Getting to know other people in the local community, chatting, laughing and socialising are just as important as singing. We love to see new friendships being forged at Sing Your Pain Away.