Drumming for self-care and mindfulness
Are you running on empty? If you’re rushing around in your business, your job, or with your kids, you may be feeling tapped out right now. Did you know that you can use drumming for self-care and mindfulness?
Do you have any time blocked out to do something that will boost your physical or mental health? Did you know that tapping out easy beats can slow your heart rate, help you focus, and reduce anxiety and stress? There are loads of scientific studies that back this up.
A different form of exercise
I’m really good at finding time to exercise and yes, I really do have it blocked off in red on Google calendar. I exercise 5 days a week for about a half hour. Do you know what I constantly forget to do? Drum by myself.
I tell people all the time that drumming is a form of self-care. It’s also a form of mindfulness training – for those of us who can’t sit still! I drum several times a week with people but I’m focusing on them and their healing. Yes, I do get something from the drumming exercises and the vibrations but it’s not the same as using drumming to help me focus, get clear, pray, and recharge.
This is typical for anyone in the healing professions and especially for those of us in the “sandwich generation.” We have kids, grandkids, and aging parents to think of. I know that drumming 3-5 times a week helps because I’ve done it. It’s what helped me bounce back after my accident and also when we were quarantined in our homes. And you only need 15-20 minutes.
Recipe for burn out
If you’re feeling burned out or even just a bit off, ask yourself when was the last time you dialed things back or took time out just for you?
For me, I decided to drop my classes at the community center for the summer. This will free up some time for my drum ministry and also for more downtime.
And yes, even though I’m getting close to retirement age (Yikes! How did that happen?!!), I know I’ll never fully retire. I don’t feel old and what would I do with all these drums? Lol! But I do need to think about slowing down and maybe travel a bit more. And hey, if you have any travel suggestions, let me know!
How about you? Are you taking care of everyone and everything but forgetting about yourself? Click here to watch a quick video that illustrates how you can use drumming as a self-care practice. I do these exercises with my private clients – with an added boost.
Dori Staehle lives in the Raleigh, NC area and is a certified drum therapist. Inspirational speaker, author, and owner of Next Stage Drumming. She offers wellness and empowerment programs for individuals and organizations, both with drumming and without. Virtual and in-person programs are available. Click here to schedule a call to find out more!
