Singing is often associated with joy, emotional release, and bringing people together. But did you know that singing also has numerous health benefits? From boosting your mood to improving lung function, singing offers a wide range of advantages for your overall well-being. In this article, we’ll explore the top ten reasons why singing is good for your health and why you should join Vasa Drängar, the Atlanta based Swedish choir to incorporating music into your life in the best possible way.
- Singing makes you feel better: Singing releases endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine, often referred to as the “happy” chemicals. These substances boost your mood and leave you feeling positive, uplifted, and motivated.
- Singing enhances lung function: Singing requires controlled breathing, which increases your lung capacity and engages the muscles around your ribcage. It’s an excellent way to strengthen your respiratory system and improve overall lung health.
- Singing helps you beat stress and relax: Proper breathing techniques used in singing can help release anxiety and promote relaxation. Singing along to your favorite songs or humming long notes can reduce stress levels and create a sense of internal balance.
- Singing helps improve memory: Singing engages multiple areas of the brain, which enhances mental alertness, memory, and concentration. It has also been shown to be effective in triggering memories for individuals living with dementia.
- Singing builds a sense of community: Singing with others, whether in person or virtually, fosters connections and a sense of togetherness. Synchronizing voices with others can fast-track social bonding and create a strong sense of community.
- Singing lets you express yourself: Singing is a powerful means of self-expression. It allows you to tap into a range of emotions and connect with others through shared experiences. Singing in a group amplifies the enjoyment as you witness the joy of others.
- Singing can help with pain relief: Singing supports well-being and can bring joy to individuals experiencing pain. It shifts their focus from discomfort to joyful and fun times, fosters connections and boosts confidence.
- Singing boosts your confidence: Singing in a group can help overcome performance anxiety and boost self-esteem. With practice, you’ll naturally gain more confidence and find yourself standing taller both physically and mentally.
- Singing features in wellbeing studies: Academic institutions, such as the University of Leeds, recognize the positive impact of music and offer programs exploring the relationship between music engagement and health and happiness.
- Singing is for everyone: Regardless of your singing ability, the health benefits of singing remain the same. Singing provides an opportunity for self-care, allowing you to tune out the world and experience the physical sensation of creating music with your body.
As you can see, you really need to join a choir if you are serious about your health and wellbeing. While you can get many of these benefits from singing by yourself, the effects are multiplied when you sing in a choir like Vasa Drängar. So go ahead, let your voice be heard and experience the transformative power of singing.
If you are in the Atlanta area join Vasa Drangar now!
Here is an example of a Swedish spring song. “Sköna Maj”, which means “Beautiful Month of May”, is a standard in Sweden among serious choirs. It is performed by multiple choirs especially on April 30, when there are concerts all over Sweden celebrating the arrival of spring.