There is a rhythm.  A pulse as old as humanity.  Like an old oak tree, the archetypal roots of rhythm reach deep into many cultures all over the planet.  The ancestors drummed for spirituality and health, healing and prayer, ceremonies and celebrations.

There is a rhythm.  A rhythm of wellness in body, mind, and spirit.  Today’s growing movement of conscious living calls us to take an active role in our own health and wellbeing.  We seek a greater level of living, filled with health, connecting to Spirit, living our passion, and accessing JOY!

There is a rhythm.  That has always existed within you.  It may have been buried, silenced, gotten rusty or dusty, but nonetheless, it beats within you.  From the beat of walking to the inhale and exhale of each breath, you’ve been drumming your whole life.

You are the drum of your heart.

What is a drum circle?

From Toyota corporate headquarters in Torrance to Kaiser Permanente in Richmond, California, the rhythm that draws hundreds of people to play drums together in parks on Sundays in Venice Beach in Los Angeles or in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco is now captivating participants in yoga studios, spiritual retreats, corporations, and medical centers.  The reasons are simple.  Drumming is powerful, playful, primal, and has healing potential.

According to Arthur Hull, “the drum circle is not a drum class or a performance.  It is open to all levels of playing and empowers participants to discover their own rhythm and share it with the circle.”  Hand drums and world percussion instruments are used to create magic, community, and rhythm.

Top Ten Benefits

Researchers in the field of Integrative Medicine are finding evidence to support key health benefits of drumming.  In studies testing people who had never drummed before, results confirm the philosophy of the ancients; the drum is a tool for expression, creativity, and healing.   

1.  Beat Stress.

No pun intended, a ground-breaking study published in 2001 by Barry Bittman, MD showed that one-hour of group drumming according to  a specific protocol increased Natural Killer (NK) cells, a key marker of immune function necessary to fight stress. 
Another study demonstrated reduced employee burnout by offering the one hour drumming program for six-weeks. 

2.  Exercise. 
The physical act of drumming requires the use of using upper body strength and coordination.  There is a low perceived effort for high results because it is fun and engaging.  Time flies when you’re having fun…on the drum.

3.  Spirituality
Drumming connects people to a power greater than themselves.  From Japanese Shinto practices to Native American ceremonies, many spiritual traditions drum for prayer, gratitude, and calling upon the Divine.

4. Joy
The first thing people notice in a drum circle is that everyone is smiling.  A study in 2004 demonstrated that a six-week drumming program called HealthRHYTHMS created a 42% improvement in mood of stressed out employees, including increased vitality and decreased anxiety.  

5. Creativity
Songwriter and singing voice of Snow White, Melissa Disney uses drumming to    unleash her creativity.   Drum circles are spontaneous and bring out the creativity     within every person, which can then be transferred  into creative projects, life, and work. 

6. Self-expression
   Drumming taps into a power to communicate beyond words.  According to author Dr. Bernie Siegel, MD, "Every group drumming experience I’ve participated in with EcaP (Exceptional Cancer Patients) brings to the surface remarkably deep heartfelt, healing emotions that are difficult to express with words alone."  
   
   
7. Energy
    Skye Alexander’s The Care and Feeding of Your Chi recommends drumming to break down energy blockages, release tension, and improve your mood.  “The physical act and sound of drumming makes for a truly holistic and energizing experience.” 
   
   
8. Making Music
   Although 99% of the population report they love music, only 8% of Americans over the age of 18 play a musical instrument.  Through drumming, people who never played an instrument before discover the natural ease of feeling and expressing the rhythm.  As Wayne Dyer says, “don’t die with the music inside you.” 
   
   
9. Be in the NOW
    Drumming gets people out of their heads and into their hearts; out of the past or future and into the present moment.  According to Ekhart Tolle, being in the “now” is the key to enlightenment.  So, drum your way to the moment and a sense of being fully present, awake and alive!
   
   
10. Unity
    The drum circle is a metaphor of connection and community.  People enjoy a powerful sense of belonging as they come together in the rhythm.       

Get Your Groove On

In just three steps, you can start incorporating drumming into your life; 

1. Get a drum:  The most popular drums today fall into two main categories:  buffalo or frame drums or cone drums, which include goblet shaped drums like African djembe and Egyptian doumbek, and barrel shaped drums like congas.  Of course, other percussion instruments like shakers, rattles, wood sounds, and bells are cool instruments for accessing the inner rhythms. 
   
   
2. Play! – Go to drum circles, play at home or outside in nature.  Free drum circles happen across California.  
   
   
3. Create your own practice - Release stress after a tough day.  Calm your soul by playing the heartbeat rhythm.  Here is a sample play at home exercise from The Healing Drum Kit: 
   
   HeartBeat Rhythm - Lub dub. (pause)  Lub dub. (pause)  Lub dub.  Repeat. 
   Begin in silence, hand on chest.  Connect with the rhythm of your own heartbeat.  Befriend your personal heart song, then lay it onto your drum.  Feel the connection to the source of love and life within you.  Listen to what your heart is telling you.   

Happy drumming!

Christine

References:

1 Bittman et al.  Alternative Therapy. 2001.

2 Bittman et al. Advances in Mind-Body Medicine, Fall/Winter 2003.

3.  Body & Soul.  May, 2005.  p. 70.  Energy! 20 tips to help you.