Can Listening to Soothing Music Improve Heart Health?

Listening to yoga music at bedtime is good for the heart, according to recent research. The studies author, Consultant Cardiologist at HG SMS Hospital in Jaipur, India, said “We use music therapy in our hospital and in this study we showed that yoga music has a beneficial impact on heart rate variability before sleeping.”

This study investigated the impact of listening to yoga music before bedtime on heart rate variability. The study included 149 healthy people who participated in three sessions on separate nights: yoga music before sleep at night; pop music with steady beats before sleep at night; and no music or silence before sleep at night. At each session, heart rate variability was measured for five minutes before the music or silence started, for 10 minutes during the music/silence, and five minutes after it had stopped. Anxiety levels were also assessed before and after each session.

Anxiety levels fell significantly after the yoga music, rose significantly post the pop music, and increased after the no music session. Participants felt significantly more positive after the yoga music than they did after the pop music. The takeaway? Turn on soothing tunes before bed for a healthier heart. 

This article originally appeared in the March/April 2019 issue of Amazing Wellness magazine.