TAP PLAY TO JAM SESH WITH US
Under the smoky haze of last week’s L.A. wildfires, unsure whether we should evacuate we found ourselves instinctively making music to soothe our frazzled nerves and recharge our mental energy.
Powered by Moon Made Farms Hella Jelly, mixing bowls became a makeshift percussion section and we recorded a tiny garden concert in my living room.
That moment of somatic release was everything I didn’t know I needed in that moment.
Panic starts to creep in when a natural disaster is raging towards you and everything is unknown. Our phones were blowing up with texts. Friends were evacuating from their homes. Ash fell from the sky like hot, dusty snowflakes. We were in a red zone, on high alert but not ready to evacuate yet.
Christina: “Jamming out and getting high is so cathartic… it unlocked something.”
Miyabe: “Somatic release… W**d helps me connect with the music and my emotions.”
One week later…
I’m okay, but emotionally not okay. I’m shaky and fighting off depression. I find myself retreating into introvert mode to recover and recharge. Taking a break from social media because all the world’s bullshit is just too overwhelming and toxic right now.
Miyabe made it back to Massachusetts, and we rendezvoused with Wendy Zeng for all-you-can-eat sushi before they headed home.
I’m shifting into social analog mode and taking a break from the apps, except for this Substack. Find me irl. There will most likely be cookies, I’ll be stress baking.
Follow Miyabe on IG @miyabephd | Network of Applied Pharmacognosy | Get a copy of Miyabe’s book, “High Hopes: Quest of a Queer, Neurodivergent, Stoner Scientist”
Source: Generative AI via Google
What is Somatic Music Therapy?
Somatic music therapy is a type of therapy that uses music and sound to help people feel more present and at ease. It combines music with self-awareness practices to help people reduce stress and anxiety, manage pain, regulate their emotions, and feel grounded.
How it works
A therapist works with a client to choose songs that are meaningful to them
The client and therapist co-regulate and self-regulate through the music
The client's mind and body settle into comforting vibrations
The client can become more present and ready to heal
Benefits
Pain management: Somatic music can help people manage and reduce bodily pain
Stress reduction: The calming effects of music can help people reduce stress and anxiety
Improved well-being: Somatic therapy can help people improve their well-being by addressing issues like PTSD, chronic pain, anxiety, and depression
The duet song we’re singing is “Anyone Else but You” by Moldy Peaches.
XOXO, Christina W.
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