WIN AT WELLNESS

With well-being, both mental and physical, very much in the forefront of the news these days, we’ve put together some of the most popular current wellness trends and practices. We spoke to local experts about their offerings, as well as people living on the island who have made a lifestyle change and greatly benefited from it. Take notes, these self-care ideas could transform your health and well-being.

Sound Of Music

There’s evidence to suggest that music has been a part of human history since the Palaeolithic age; early man is said to have banged rocks together to create music. Even flutes made from bones have been unearthed. Since olden times, the healing powers of music have been harnessed by many cultures; in the 13th century, the Arab world is said to have had music rooms in hospitals. Today, more and more people are becoming aware of this unique wellness modality. According to the British Academy of Sound Therapy, 89% of people believe music is essential for health and well-being. Whether you’re dealing with a serious issue or simply want to enhance your lifestyle, Bahrain is home to interesting music-related initiatives.

Florencia Grasselli, a Neurologic Music Therapist living on the island, says: “People encountering developmental challenges, anxiety, everyday stress and life-threatening or painful conditions, and anyone else open to self-discovery can benefit [from music therapy].

“Music is processed in all areas of the brain and has the ability to reach and stimulate sections that may not be accessible through other modalities. Music therapy requires you to be present in the moment and also creates positive emotional states.”

While this is a vast field and there are many kinds of music therapy sessions, Florencia shares an example with a focus on the wellness of an individual having difficulty expressing emotions verbally, causing stress and anxiety. Working through therapeutic songwriting can help reflect on the past, present or future, tap into the unconscious, and project feelings into music. Projecting one's thoughts in songs is a safe way to voice out uncomfortable feelings.

Florencia goes on to share some success stories: a child with speech delay saying the first ‘mama’ after working with a mama song tailor-made for him; a woman with childhood trauma voicing out her feelings through songwriting; a man with broca aphasia learning to speak through singing, since our brains are wired differently for speaking and singing; a child with a rare genetic disorder interacting through music after being isolated for a long time; a woman with Alzheimer’s connecting with her daughter through her favourite song from her teenage years – individuals with dementia can recall most of their musical memories from seven to 15 years, until the end of their lives.

GO: Visit musictheraphybahrain.com or follow @musictherapy_bahrain on Instagram for more information.

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Sheikh Khalifa Bin Salman Highway, Al Seef District, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain

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