That four suits - typical high - powered, executive types - look ready to launch into a business meeting. Instead of boardroom - speak we hear ... singing? That & # 39; s right. Gone suddenly are It 's been replaced by nicely animated eyes and smiles. It' s been squeezed. It 's been for relieving the stress and high blood pressure of our hyperactive and aggressive modern lifestyles. It & # 39; s been found to promote a sense of well-being and help people to connect better with those around them, especially when practiced communally.
However, its newfound popularity may have a trendy aspect to it, it is anything but new. Chanting goes back in history to well before the birth of Christ and is the earliest manifestation of Western music. today originated during the "Silver Age of Chant" from 900 to 1300 AD.
Having said this, Gregorian chant, with its simple beauty and inspirational qualities, has enjoyed generous commercial success. Chant can be appreciated on both spiritual and secular levels and the Church seems to actively promote its enjoyment by all.
In response The answer to the credit crunch, a looming recession, and all-round doom and gloom take their toll, people of all types are looking for new and simpler ways to soothe the soul. , courses for Gregorian chant are in high demand and groups for singing it - both religious and secular - are springing up everywhere.
And now there 's another great reason to participate in this ancient ritual: its health benefits! Recent research reveals that singing Gregorian chant can lower your blood pressure, relieve stress, increase levels of performance - enhancing hormones and reduce anxiety and depression. That & # 39; s in addition to its social benefits expressed above.
Dr. Alan Watkins, senior lecturer in neuroscience at Imperial College London, connected monks to a device that monitored their heart rate and blood pressure through a 24-hour period. The results revealed that blood pressure and blood pressure dipped to their lowest points in the day when they were chanting. This is especially significant as blood pressure and heart rate increase during activity.
Dr. Watkins explains: "The control of breathing, the feelings of well - being that communing singing bring, and the simplicity of the melodies, seem to have a powerful effect on reducing blood pressure and therefore stress."
"It & # 39; s all in the breathing." You probense heard this about singing. Breathing is basic training for all professional singing and many great singers demonstrate formidable breathing abilities. The legendary Sinatra, it was said, sang the Last 16 bars of "My Funny Valentine" on one breath. The British singer, Des O & # 39; Connor, said about him: "His breathing was the secret of everything he ever did the control.
Breathing control - the secret behind such diverse things as singing, dancing, meditation, martial art and so many aspects of our general health and vitality. Long before the current focus on Gregorian chant, researchers documented the ability of a form of slow and regulated breathing to lower blood pressure. And unlike conventional forms of relaxation, the effects of slow breathing are cumulative and long-lasting. In fact, an entirely new form of natural blood pressure treatment has grown out of this research.
Singing in general requiring a reliably short inhale followed by a long, sustained exhale during It is more vividly related to it. It is more likely that it is more than that contribute. It's more likely to be breathing and health benefits. if Gregorian chant were carefully designed with advance knowledge of therapeutic breathing techniques! (hmmm, makes you wonder ...)
While breathing may be the more obvious key to its health-giving properties, the regular cadence and monophonic nature of chant presented above also give it it ethereal beauty and hypnotic power that have survived the millennia Gregorian chant surely has positive psychological impact that is not fully understood or appreciated. At extremely enjoyable: a rare quality indeed for a healthy practice!
Of course not all religious music is Gregorian chant but many churches sponsor Gregorian Choirs and similar groups.
Check it the Internet for for clubs, academic communities and clubs, academic communities and even commercial organizations that teach Gregorian chant. Checking the Internet for for this article, the number of such groups is increasing daily; check the Internet for resources in your area.
Although you do not want to join a group there are many many CDs and home-study courses available on the Internet The breathing track guides your breathing in the therapeutic cadence while you relax to the incredibly beautiful and hypnotic chant. Remember: it 's all in the breathing!
