Since ancient times, people have used rhythmic music, especially percussion music, to induce a certain state. They’ve used it for
healing, for going into a trance during spiritual ceremonies, for community building, for celebration, and even for sparking fervor and courage for battle.
Still today, we play music with a steady beat when we want to dance and release stress or to power through a difficult workout. In recent years, scientists have been studying the effects of
rhythmic music on the brain, especially how it can be used as a form of therapy.
International musician Sun Poong has also studied the power of rhythmic music, particularly music traditional to Korea. For more than 20 years, he has performed it to promote health, spirituality, and well-being. His music has often been used to complement the rhythmic exercises that are a major part of the
Body & Brain Yoga practice, which also originated in Korea and which is based on the ancient Korean practice of Sundo. Now Sun Poong has made an album with music matched to specific Body & Brain Yoga exercises.
Sound & Rhythm Healing is currently available for download in the Change Your Energy Shop, so we wanted to give you a glimpse of the exercises you can do with it. These exercises reduce stress, slow down brain waves, stimulate blood flow, and relax the entire body. In other words, they put your body and mind into the best state for healing and maintaining itself.
Track 1: “Tap Tap Dahnjon Tapping”
One of the first exercises any Body & Brain Yoga practitioner learns, Dahnjon Tapping involves tapping the abdomen below the navel with palms or fists to a steady rhythm. Besides stimulating blood, lymph, and food flow in this important part of the body, Dahnjon Tapping stimulates the energy center located in the lower abdomen, which is called the lower dahnjon in this practice. Strengthening this energy center allows for the “
Water Up, Fire Down” energy flow needed to be healthy and provides a feeling of vitality, confidence, and centeredness.
Track 2: “Pull and Push Intestinal Exercise”
Like Dahnjon Tapping,
Intestinal Exercise focuses on the lower abdomen. Rather than tapping it with your hands, you contract and expand your abdominal muscles to massage the organs beneath them.
Track 3: “Press Press Your Belly Button”
This song is a great soundtrack for doing
Belly Button Healing. It provides a steady rhythm with which to press your navel in and out repeatedly. While being another way to circulate the blood, lymph, and food in your abdomen, this exercise also helps to open all the energy channels (meridians) in your body, since the belly button is an important, centrally located acupressure point that strongly stimulates energy flow.
Track 4: “Clap Clap Your Stress Away”
Did you know that clapping could be a powerful mind-body exercise? Energy channels run through your hands that are connected with many organs, and each finger is associated with a different organ. And in the middle of each palm is an energy center that connects with your heart. So by clapping your hands, you open any blockages that may be affecting your health and
open your heart to be more empathetic with others. This track on the
Sound & Rhythm Healing album gives you a happy rhythm to clap along to.
Track 5: “Ha Ha Ho Ho Laughing Out Loud”
When you listen to this track, you can’t help but laugh out loud. And why wouldn’t you want to laugh?
Laughter helps you change your energy and mood and bring your awareness into the here and now. It reduces stress and improves circulation. Even if you have to force your laughter at first, after 20 to 30 seconds, your brain doesn’t know the difference. It starts to release the same hormones as if your laughter began spontaneously. Laughing for at least 15 minutes gives you the most benefit, but try laughing for as long as the three and a half minutes of this track, or even for 30 seconds.
Track 6: “Shake It Up Brain Wave Vibration”
One of the signature techniques of Body & Brain Yoga,
Brain Wave Vibration is the embodiment of a rhythmic exercise. This is the first track for Brain Wave Vibration on the
Sound & Rhythm Healing album, and you can use it for the most basic Brain Wave Vibration method: tapping your dahnjon while shaking your head. This method slows down your brain waves while keeping you grounded and centered. It particularly releases tension in your shoulders, neck, and head. Practicing it not only loosens your muscles and joints, but loosens your thinking as well. If you are feeling stuck in life or are looking for creative ideas, try shaking your head with Brain Wave Vibration.
Track 7: “Wobble Wobble Whole Body Vibration”
Use this track to vibrate your entire body freely in Whole Body Brain Wave Vibration. Moving and shaking your body removes the tension, stress, and rampant thinking that you’ve been carrying around. Consider Brain Wave Vibration a moving meditation that you don’t have to practice years to master or benefit from.
Track 8: “Arirang Arirang Soul Vibration (Younggamudo 2)”
When Brain Wave Vibration becomes very deep, you may become able to feel yourself more powerfully and minutely. You feel your body, and if you focus on it, you may also feel your heart. This 23-minute song of powerful vibrations lets you go deep—past your memories, your ego, even your physical awareness—until you become distinctly aware of the subtle vibration of the energy in your body, including the
energy in your heart. There is no format for doing this moving meditation: you move your whole body as it wants. The most important thing is to let go of everything freely while feeling everything at the same time.
Track 9: “Breathe In Breathe Out”
Unlike the other tracks on this album, which feature drums and other percussion instruments, this track features a simple wooden flute. Use this music to
breathe comfortably and deeply from your abdomen.
Learn more about the
Sound & Rhythm Healing album in the
Change Your Energy Shop and discover a soundtrack for vibrating yourself to greater happiness and vitality.