The Whole Music Experience

Here are 10 pop songs sure to uplift any mood.  Listen to them, sing them, or in some cases dance to them often.  And create your own list of go-to songs. 1. Spoonful--Willie Dixon 2. Here Comes the Sun--The Beatles 3. Smile--Charlie Chaplin (I love Madeleine Peyroux's version) 4. Ma Vie en Rose--Edith Piaf (sung by Edith Piaf in French) 5. Jammin'--Bob Marley 6. What a Wonderful World--Louis Armstrong 7. Maria (from Westside Story)--Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim 8. I Feel Pretty (from Westside Story)--Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sonheim 9. My Favorite Things (The Sound of Music)--composer? 10. Summer Time--George (and Ira?) Gershwin Also listen to Fellini soundtrack music by Nino Rota, Putumayo compilations, "Careless Love" and "Half the Perfect World" by Madeleine Peyroux, Mozart operas and Catherine Russell's "Inside this Heart of Mine" (World Village) hits the spot too.

Mad About Beethoven  We all feel angry or frustrated at times.  I don't believe in suppressing anger/frustration and speaking through a tight fake smile.  I also don't feel that it is appropriate to vent anger, to rant, and to take out anger on other humans and creatures. When we feel angry we can listen to music that matches our frustration level to help us release it safely and sanely.  We could use movement with the music, have a good cry, scream into a pillow (though some psychotherapist and metaphysicians frown on this practice), or just sit and listen to the music, allowing it to move you through your feelings. Don't focus on what sparked your anger/frustration since that's like adding oil to a fire.  Focus on the emotions you feel and don't judge them.  Go as deep as you can within yourself and see where those emotions take you.  While I'm sure you know of plenty of music that can go to that angry place with you, how about mus...

Even if you don't know your personal dosha, we are now moving into the summer Pitta Dosha season.  And every change of season also has a strong Vata element.  So here are some musical tips to help you balance the Pitta and Vata doshas. For Vata, remember that slow, low, repetative and warming music balances the dosha.  So here are a list of recordings that can help you in balancing this dosha. Marjorie de Muynck, In the Key of Earth , Sounds True Lisa Spector and Joshua Leeds , Through a Dog's Ear Volumes 1 and 2 , (works for humans too), Sounds True and BARD Dr. Andrew Weil and Joshua Leeds, Relax and De-Stress/Deep Calm , Sounds True The Miracles (and wine series) on Kirkelig Kulturverksted (Norway, kkv.no) This series includes Spain, France, Italy and the New World (cello and piano anchor the music) Also try the Alap section of Indian ragas and you can try relaxation CDs that feature nature sounds. Vata tends over intellectualizes, gets caught up i...

If circumstances allow try adding selections of music to your meals.  Invigorating music with breakfast, baroque with the heaviest meal of the day (since baroque music helps with digestion) and relaxing music with your last meal of the day. Personally, I prefer bossa nova, baroque, Parisian cafe, and jazz standards with my meals.

Use slow, low (tones) and simple music (preferably played on one instrument or voice) to calm anxiety in humans and dogs.  Slow, low, warming, and simple music also works for balancing the Vata dosha of Ayurvedic medicine.  The low tones discharge the nervous system, the simple melody or music gives the brain a rest (it doesn't have to decipher a complex pattern or rhythms) and the slow tempo slows the heartbeat and pulse.

When you listen to a piece of music or a song that you love, savor the song after it ends and let it resonate with your entire body.  Absorb the silence after the song ends and refrain from either listening to the song again right away or immediately listening to a new musical selection. Your mind and body need time to digest the music.