June 21 marks World Music Day, a global celebration of music as the universal language that transcends words and unites hearts. While most of us rely on music to get through our daily routines—whether it’s singing along during a commute, powering through a task with lo-fi beats, or finding motivation in an upbeat playlist—music is more than just entertainment. It’s also a powerful source of healing, emotional grounding, and connection.
🎵 Music and Mood: A Science-Backed Relationship
“Music improves your mood,” says Prakriti Poddar, Global Head of Mental Health and Wellbeing at Roundglass Living, in an interview with HT Lifestyle. She delves into how different frequencies and sonic elements can be harnessed to shift our mental and emotional states, enhance focus, and foster connection—with both ourselves and others.
Here’s a detailed guide she shared, decoding how sound frequencies impact wellness:
🌐 Sound Frequencies and Their Benefits
- 432 Hz – Promotes calmness and activates the parasympathetic nervous system (rest-and-digest state).
- 528 Hz – Known as the Love Frequency; associated with DNA repair and emotional healing.
- 396 Hz – Helps release guilt and fear, supporting emotional grounding.
- 639 Hz – Encourages heart coherence and enhances social bonding.
- 741 Hz – Aids in mental clarity and sharper problem-solving.
- Delta waves (0.5–4 Hz) – Induce deep, restorative sleep.
- Gamma waves (30–100 Hz) – Support peak focus and cognitive performance.
Indian classical ragas have long recognized this power. For example:
- Raga Bhairavi helps with grief and emotional release.
- Raga Durga is uplifting and invokes inner strength and joy.
💫 Regulating Emotions with Music
- From overwhelm to calm: Try 432 Hz ambient music layered with alpha waves for nervous system soothing.
- From fatigue to flow: 10 Hz beta rhythms energize and sustain motivation.
- From grief to release: Pair Raga Bhairavi with delta waves and vocal drone for emotional ease.
- To boost focus at work: Use isochronic tones mimicking beta waves (13–30 Hz) to heighten alertness.
- For better sleep: Combine delta waves with white or pink noise for deep sleep support.
- To lift your spirits: Nature sounds or slow instrumental music reduce stress and improve mood.
- To deepen inner peace: Chanting and humming activate the vagus nerve, guiding the brain to relaxed alpha states.
- To connect with others: Sharing music or singing together strengthens trust and emotional bonds.
🎶 Music as a Tool for Social Bonding
From kirtans to karaoke sessions, communal music experiences tap into a deep sense of emotional resonance that transcends language. These shared moments trigger the release of oxytocin, the bonding hormone, cultivating belonging and connection.
In India’s Bhakti traditions, the act of making or listening to music together was never just about entertainment—it was about healing through shared presence.
🧠 The Ancient Wisdom of Sound Healing Meets Modern Science
Prakriti emphasizes that India’s yogic practices such as Nada Yoga and Raga Chikitsa understood the therapeutic potential of music centuries ago—long before neuroscience caught up.
“Neuroscience explains how sound frequencies regulate stress, calm the nervous system, and support healing. But this is not new wisdom. In India’s yogic lineage, practices like Nada Yoga and Raga Chikitsa used sound as a pathway to balance, awareness, and wellbeing, centuries before labs validated what ancient sages intuitively understood.”
“Music supports healing as it reduces cortisol, activates the parasympathetic nervous system, improves emotional regulation, and supports better sleep, focus, and healing. Solfeggio frequencies, brain wave entrainment, mantra resonance, raga structures, and isochronic tones, all designed to support mental clarity, emotional healing, and energy balance. Music helps to bring about emotional intelligence, too.”
🎧 This World Music Day, Tune into Healing
Whether you’re humming a melody, playing an instrument, or simply listening deeply—music has the power to heal, transform, and connect. In a noisy world, it offers an invitation to pause, listen, and return to the rhythm of peace—both within and around us.