1.Singingreleasesendorphionsandoxytocin.Endorphinsarehormonesthatincreasefeelingsofeuphoriaandpleasure.Oxytocinisalsoknownasthe“cuddlehormone”becauseitisreleasedwhenpeoplesnuggleup.Itisknowntodecreasestressandanxiety.Bothofthesehormonescanmakeyoufeelbetteringeneralanddecreaseanypainyoumightbefeelingweightliftingequipment.2.Singingimprovescognition.SeveralstudieshaveconcludedthatsingersandmusicianstypicallyhavehigherIQsthannon-musicians.Singingcanimproveyouroverallbrainfunctionandhelpyouthinkalittleclearer.3.Singingleadstoalongerlife.AjointYaleandHarvardstudyshowedthatforsomepeoplelivinginNewHaven,Connecticut,choralsingingpromotedhealthymindsandhearts,whichincreasedlifeexpectancy.4.Singinglowersyourbloodpressure.Therehavebeenseveralcasestudiesthathaverevealedthatsingingcandecreasebloodpressureduetoit’scalmingandrelaxingeffect.Patientshavebeenabletocalmthemselvesdownandlowerbloodpressurereadingswheninthehospitalbysinginghymns.5.Singingtonesupyourfacialmuscles,yourdiaphragm,andyourintercostalmuscles.Thepropertechniqueofsingingfromthediaphragmcanstrengthenyourabdomenandbackmuscles.Youalsoexerciseyourfacialmusclesinuniquewayswhenyousing,whichcanmakeyourfacelookmoreenergeticandlively.Yourintercostalmuscles–thegroupsofmusclesrunningbetweentheribsthathelpformandmovethechestwall–willreceivequitetheworkoutaswellasyousing.6.Singingincreasesempathyandunderstandingbetweencultures.Musiccanhelpustofeelconnectedtoallofhumanity,evenacrossculturaldivides.Singingsongsthatoriginatedfromotherculturescangiveusanewappreciationforthoseculturesandhelpusempathizewithothers.7.Singingdevelopsthelungsandgivesyoubetterposture.Whenyousing,younaturallysitorstandupstraightertogetabettersound.Singingalsoimprovesyourlungcapacityandhelpsyoutobreathealittleeasier.8.Singingbringspeopletogetherandcreatesasenseofcommunity.Singinginachoirorsinginginanysortofgroupenvironmentwithotherpeoplecanbeafun,bondingactivity.Itgivesyouanopportunitytoshareanexperiencewithagroupofpeople.Therehavebeenseveralstudiesthathaveshownsinginginachoirdecreaseddepressioninmanyadults.9.SingingcanhelppatientsofParkinson’sdisease.TherehavebeennumerousstudiesthathaveshownhowsingingcanincreasethehealthofpatientssufferingfromParkinson’sdisease.Forthesepatients,singingcanimprovevocalandswallowingcontrolinthesepatients.Thereareevensomestudiesthatsuggestmusiccanhelppatientstoregaintheirbalance.10.Singingimprovesyourmemory.Evenifyoucan’talwaysrememberallofthelyricstoyourfavoritesongs,thereisnoquestionthatsingingrequiresyoutouseyourmemoryinwaysthatyoudon’tnormally.Thisisoneexcellentwaytokeepyourbrainfunctioningwellasyouage.11.Singingcanboostyourimmunity.Becausesingingcanloweryourbloodpressure,causeyoutohavelowercortisollevels,anddecreaseyourstressandanxiety,itwillcertainlyhaveapositiveeffectonyourimmunesystem.Sonowyouhaveseveralreasonstogojointhatchoiryou’vealwayswantedtojoinortojuststartsinginginthecarorintheshower.Improveyourhealthandhappinesswiththisincrediblyfunactivity.
