Music, the Sound Bath

I remember that day in the second year of my MBBS course when I was studying pharmacology . Countless drug names had to be learnt by rote along with information of their actions and side-effects. Time was short and the pressure enormous. To de-stress I tried taking a nap, but woke up with a horrible dream that I had missed the examination. Pacing the floor, I chanced into my parents' room, where my mother was practising Raag Kalavati on the harmonium. I asked my mother if I could try my hand at it. The moment I touched the keys and pulled the bellows of the harmonium, a feeling of calm filled me.My mother taught me the basic sargam and I got hooked.After an hour of experimenting and playing staccato notes, I knew I had found my stress management tool for life. Yes, that hour spent in the company of a musical instrument had driven away all my exam stress. I was refreshed and ready to face any challenge in pharmacology .

From that day onwards, I would take regular breaks from my studies and play the harmonium. In many clinical studies, music ranks as the No.1 stress-buster. Listening to the right kind of music at the right volume can be beneficial to mind and body . One can reach a meditative zone listening to music. Listening to soft music set to a tempo lower than 72 beats a minute can induce deep breathing and a lower heart rate, consistent with relaxation. Music can act like a `sound bath' and help you wash away all your worries.