Whether you have perfect pitch or can’t carry a tune to save your life, there is something thrilling about raising your voice in song. This is the power of singing.
But what many people don’t know is that singing is actually beneficial for both your physical and mental health.
In fact, it offers so many benefits that it can even be used as a form of therapy. What is it that makes singing so empowering? We’ll take a look.
Singing Releases Endorphins
Have you ever noticed how infants hum and coo and make their own “songs” of sorts? They do this long before they speak. And nearly every spiritual tradition incorporates song in some way to celebrate life.
It turns out that the vibrations created in our bodies by singing release mood-boosting endorphins. And when we sing in a group, it’s even better. Along with endorphins, singing with even a small group induces the production of oxytocin – the bonding hormone.
People who regularly sing in a chorus or a choir report feeling reduced stress and anxiety when joined together in song. There is also an increased sense of trust and well-being.
It’s Good For Your Physical Health
Yeah, okay. So singing may not give you the same cardio benefits as, say, running a mile or taking a dance class. Even so, it can be considered an aerobic activity. That’s because of the deep breathing that’s required to sing.
Deep breathing delivers a significant amount of oxygen to the brain and is immensely restorative. With all of that oxygen comes a sense of invigoration and euphoria, as well as a calming meditative state. It’s the same reason that yoga, Pilates, and a number of Far Eastern practices utilize its power. 
Controlling respiration, as in done in singing, can also be beneficial for treating certain lung and breathing conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) and asthma. Strengthening the respiratory muscles can also help those with cancer, multiple sclerosis, and cystic fibrosis.
Another plus is that singing decreases the stress hormone cortisol. This, in turn, allows the body to produce more antibodies and strengthen the immune system.
This Is Your Brain On Singing…
Singing also boosts emotional health. (Go figure.) But it makes sense.
Circling back to the world of infants, singing is often the first go-to when we want to comfort a crying baby. And we use lullabies to help children calm themselves before sleep.
Studies also show that when we’re grieving, staying active in some sort of group singing experience (such as a chorus or a capella group) helps to keep depression symptoms at bay and improves self-esteem.
Singing also enhances the neuroplasticity of the brain. It’s so effective in establishing new neural pathways that neurologists and therapists use it to treat issues such as stuttering, Parkinson’s Disease, or those caused by a brain injury or autism.
You Can Do It When Tone Deaf
So maybe you’re thinking, Well, that’s all fine and good for people who sing well. But here’s the deal. You can still reap the benefits of singing even if you don’t exactly have the greatest singing voice. Just the sheer act of singing – regardless of how it sounds – is what delivers all the benefits.
Again, this is especially the case when singing in a group. Some believe that singing in a group creates a phenomenon called entrainment. This is when the pulses of the singers all come together in synchronicity to create one heartbeat. Whether that’s true or not, it’s a nice idea and lends to the idea of all of us being one collective force.
Finally, there’s a certain vulnerability that comes with singing. Especially for those who don’t feel confident in their ability. But even for those who do, singing asks of all of us to access and face our truest selves. And the more we come face to face with who we are, the clearer our purpose in this life is.
That’s the Serious Power of Singing
Grasping who we are through singing allows us to live a life that’s guided more by generosity, compassion, and love than fear and oppression.
That’s the power of singing.
If you have a child who’s deeply moved by singing and want for him/her/them to thrive in their educational setting, contact us today to take a tour of our arts academy middle/high school. And change the course of their future.