Providing Rhythm-Based Solutions
As a psychotherapist, stress management consultant and drummer of thirty years who began drumming on a practice pad my father created out of three-parts love and one-part rubber and wood, I’ve been pondering a question that went beyond the technique and mechanics of my drumming. That is, were there any benefits to my drumming on my mind, body, or even, dare I say, soul?
For thousands of years, numerous cultures have used drums for celebrations, rites of passage and as healing tools. Recently, drum fever has been sweeping the country as people discover the spiritual, psychological and physical benefits of drumming.
Trust is one the most important elements in the workshops I teach. Usually that trust is me learning to trust myself and my process. In this case, my learning extended to trusting that the participants know what is best for themselves, and for me, to practice getting out of the way and allowing them to open to their next steps, in this case, literally.
Seemingly everyone can benefit from drumming, from senior citizens to executives, from war Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s patients, from cancer victims to Multiple Sclerosis patients, as well as individuals with paralysis and stroke, all were able to find benefits through drumming. The more I searched, the more it seemed that there wasn’t a population or ailment that couldn’t receive something positive from drumming, and the benefits were sometimes profound.
One of the keys to success in adulthood is often overlooked by most adults, the value of self-care, and, as part of self-care, the ability to cultivate the art of play.
In a world where we are bombarded by technological beeps, blings and sounds, has perpetuated a disconnection to what is real and, to what connects us: OUR RHYTHM. Presenter Robert Lawrence Friedman MA , presented at the Royal Mental Health Care & Research in Ottawa on March 13th 2015, a full day theoretical and hands on workshop relating to the topic.