Do you ever find yourself humming absentmindedly as you go about your day? It might be your favorite song, a catchy jingle you can't get out of your head or even random notes to keep you feeling content. You might not realize it, but this simple act of making a sound with your lips closed can have a myriad of health benefits! Much like the purring of a cat, humming is more than just a quirky habit- it’s a mini wellness practice you can do anytime, anywhere!
Stress Relief and Relaxation
Did you know that humming can calm your thoughts? When you hum, you're creating a space between your thoughts and your nervous system. This can help you regulate to feel less anxious and overwhelmed!
It's not just making a sound—you’re activating a powerful relaxation technique. Humming stimulates the vagus nerve, which plays a key role in activating the parasympathetic nervous system. This is the part of your nervous system responsible for relaxation and digestion. As you hum, your body naturally begins to calm down, reducing stress and promoting a sense of peace and well-being.
Boosting Sinus Health
Humming can be a life saver for those of us with sinus congestion. The vibrations created by humming resonate through the bones in your face and clear the sinuses. You'll notice better airflow and and less frequent sinus infections. To get the most out of humming, try to use lower tones- they produce stronger vibrations. For anyone prone to sinus issues, humming can be a simple, non-invasive way to keep your nasal passages in tip-top shape.
Enhancing Focus and Mental Clarity
We've all had those days where we struggle to concentrate or feel mentally foggy. Humming can pull you out of those episodes of lethargy and brain fog. The rhythmic vibrations and the sound itself can help to center your thoughts and enhance focus on the task at hand.
If you've ever watched any type of car racing, you're probably familiar with that magic nitrous oxide (NOS) button drivers use to give their ride a boost when they most need it. Injecting NOS into your car's engine can give you a large boost of 50-300 horsepower for a short amount of time.
Did you know that our bodies produce a similar chemical? Take away one nitrogen atom, and you have nitric oxide (NO), which is crucial for sending messages throughout your body. Just like that magic button in the car, humming can increase the amount of NO that your body produces, improving brain function and cognitive performance. In other words, a few minutes of humming could be just what you need to clear your mind and supercharge your productivity.
Improved Breathing
Humming can be a breath of fresh air to your health! It encourages deep, diaphragmatic breathing, which helps your body to increase the oxygen levels in your blood. By humming, you naturally extend your exhalation, which done regularly, can increase your lung capacity. This deeper level of breathing can be super effective in calming the symptoms of anxiety and also improve your respiratory health.
Resonance Therapy and Humming - A Perfect Pair
I learned early on in my career as an occupational therapist that humming can be a powerful tool in helping the mind and body to heal. In developing the Rezzimax Tuner, I found that matching it's resonance with a little bit of humming can greatly improve the outcome.
Something else you can do to make your humming even more effective is to hold the tip of your tongue between your teeth. There's a whole lot of nerves inside there, and giving them some sensory stimulation acts as an invitation to join in on the calming session.
Have you tried humming with the Tuner? If not, give it a try! You don't even need to be musically inclined. See if you can match up your humming to the same pitch as the Tuner's vibrations and you'll be amazed at how quickly you can put your nervous system into a parasympathetic state.